So what is stopping Woods? As he contemplates whether to accept the offer, Woods claims that time is his main stumbling block. He is on two fancy-sounding PGA Tour committees and is involved in the radical overhaul of the circuit that could happen as early as next year. No doubt this is worthy mitigation, but come on. Woods is a genius inside the ropes, not inside the boardroom and he should be reminded where his true talents lie.
Forget the money, the unpaid hours he would have to undertake for the Ryder Cup’s mass of sponsors and suck it up and solely concentrate on the positives. For the Ryder Cup failure, an unlikely victory as captain would rewrite the team section of his CV.
And imagine what it could do for the week itself? Woods in that captain’s buggy would raise the Ryder Cup’s prestige still further, especially during those centenary celebrations. No, Donald would not be overawed by Tiger’s presence, but his aura could have a tremendous effect on the match as a whole. In this era of professional golf in which self-interest reigns supreme, this would be such a wholly positive image.
Yes, there is a downside. But the upsides are limitless. Woods is close to JP McManus, the Adare Manor owner, and the 15-time major champion is beloved by the Irish public. He could win them all over and in this sense, it could even be described as the challenge of his life. Certainly, it is not a chance that he should turn down.
So over to you Tiger, your country needs you, particularly now that Donald has put his reputation on the line once more. That might be all Woods needs to hear, because I assure you, he is the last person on Earth who would appreciate being labelled a bottler.
Donald agrees to captain Europe for third time