This is who should be American Ryder Cup captain

After Tiger Woods unsurprisingly ruled himself out of the US Ryder Cup captaincy, the PGA of America has a problem.

Following his latest traffic mishap, Woods has decided to take some time away from the game and has now told the PGA of America that he does not wish to be considered to lead the American team at Adare Manor in 2027. The big issue is that the powers-that-be had convinced themselves that they could persuade the 15-time major champion to do the job - and they now have to go back to the drawing board.

So who are the likely candidates?

After his heartbreak in New York last year, Keegan Bradley spoke of his love-hate relationship with the Ryder Cup. He has now been on the losing side twice as a player and once as a captain. For the first two days he was out-thought and outsmarted by Luke Donald and his European team. But there was almost a remarkable final-day comeback.

Bradley says he still cannot get the Ryder Cup out of his mind. He knows that he made serious selection errors - and nobody, but nobody, is more desperate to restore American pride than Bradley. There is absolutely no doubt that he would do the job again if asked, but surely the PGA of America will want a new face, somebody who is not carrying so much scar tissue. 

Bradley recently said: "I mean, yeah, sure, I would [want to captain again], but I don't know if that's in the cards. Any Ryder Cup captain that loses would like to do it again, I would imagine, but that's not up to me."

The favourite is probably Stewart Cink, who has already expressed interest in the job.

"Heck yeah I'm interested in being the Ryder Cup captain," Cink said. "I'd love to represent the United States and the players, take some of the experience that I've got and apply it and hopefully try to get this thing turned around.

"It feels like the Ryder Cup has been like a European party for about 15 years now or more. I'd like to change that."

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

He knows what it’s like to play in the event and he also knows what it takes to win a major. He is also popular among his peers and, until recently, was still playing on the PGA Tour and is not out of touch with the players who are likely to make the team.

Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker are other obvious contenders. Both PGA Tour veterans and former Ryder Cup players, they were among Bradley’s vice-captains at Bethpage Black.

Snedeker is Team USA's Presidents Cup captain later this year, with many of his team at Medinah likely to feature again the following season at the Ryder Cup.

Simpson was described as a "natural leader" by Davis Love III when he was appointed as a Presidents Cup vice-captain for the 2022 edition, with his vice-captaincy role last year following three Ryder Cup appearances for Team USA.

Jim Furyk’s name has also been mentioned but surely that is a non-starter. He now plays on the Champions Tour and hardly covered himself in glory when he captained the USA at Le Golf National in 2018. In case you have forgotten, Europe won that one 17-11!

Justin Leonard has also said he would do the job. He was the man who holed that infamous putt in 1999. He said: "Having a little bit of separation from today's players, even though I know the guys from doing television, I think would be a good thing. Having a little separation as the captain would be an advantage to the job."

That is a view few would subscribe to.

And, of course, the name of Fred Couples is once again bing touted. Everybody loves the laid-back former Masters champion but does he really possess the ruthless streak that the Americans are going to need? I doubt it.

Gary Woodland could be a left-field choice but after his recent return to form, the PGA of America might be at risk of giving themselves another headache if they name him because there is a real possibility that he could qualify for the team. 

My gut feeling is that Cink will get the nod.