ST SIMONS ISLAND (Georgia) • Tiger Woods, a 14-time Major winner and seven-time member of the US Ryder Cup team, will be among America's 2016 vice-captains, US captain Davis Love said.
On the eve of the US PGA's RSM Classic hosted by Love, he announced that Woods, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk would join Tom Lehman as vice-captains on the US squad that will be trying to reclaim the trophy from Europe.
Next year's Ryder Cup will be played from Sept 30 to Oct 2 at Hazeltine in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Americans lead the all-time rivalry 25-13, with two drawn, but the Europeans have won three in a row, six of the past seven and eight of the past 10.
Woods, 40 next month, is coming off two back operations and has not announced a timetable for his return to competition. But the world No. 384 has not ruled out making the team as a player.
"I would like to thank Davis (Love) for his confidence in me and for my selection as a Ryder Cup vice-captain. This is something I want to do," said Woods, who has a Ryder Cup record of 13-17-3 and has been on the winning team just once.
"I'll continue to do whatever I can to help win the Ryder Cup back. Once I'm fully healthy, I would like to try to make the team too."
If Woods plays his way into the team or receives a captain's pick, Love would have the option to name a replacement as vice-captain.
No matter what role the the former world No. 1 will play, reigning British Open champion Zach Johnson believes that Woods will be a great asset to the American team.
"When you have, in my opinion, the best player that I've ever played with as a guy inside your team room, regardless if he's playing or not, that's huge," he told the Golf Channel.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
