“Please tell me this is a joke”; “How is Phil Mickelson not in the conversation”: Fans react as reports of shock Ryder Cup captain choice emerges

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Phil Mickelson, The Masters (Image via Getty)
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Reports have emerged stating that Tiger Woods has turned down the offer to captain Team USA at the 2025 Ryder Cup that will be played at the Bethpage Black Golf Course in New York. The PGA of America will announce the captain tomorrow.

With Tiger Woods out of the running, there are some new players who are expected to be in the running for captaincy. Fred Couples, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, and Keegan Bradley are the fans’ most speculated picks for the honor.

The rumoured candidates have left golf fans all over the world in splits. Here’s how a user reacted to a post by NUCLR Golf which suggested that Bradley will be named captain.

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” Please tell me this is a joke, it sounds too ridiculous to even be one to be honest”
Considering Phil Mickelson’s legendary career on the PGA Tour, some fans feel he deserves to in the conversation at least.

” Prolly not deserved but I fw it. How the hell is Phil Mickelson not in the conversation though,” a user wrote.
Tiger Woods’ decision to opt out of the role has left fans worldwide disappointed. X user @DesperadoSport took to the platform to state that Keegan Bradley is a solid choice for the role but he does not compare to Woods. The fan wrote,

” No knock to Keegan, but this is a big let down considering the expectation was Tiger ”
Team Europe had announced their picks for the 2025 Ryder Cup earlier this year, giving them a head start in clarity and team preparation compared to team USA. Here’s what a fan had to say with regard to the same:

” Things looking good for team Europe already”
There was another fan who seemed to be unhappy with the development:

” Good grief. This isn’t necessarily a shot at Keegan here but is this really where the US is at? ,” they wrote.
Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup career
Some fans believe Tiger Woods will not be able to play in the tournament because of his injuries after he reportedly declined the chance to lead the United States on their home field next year.

In his eight Ryder Cup appearances, Woods has recorded 13 victories, 21 defeats, and three ties. Here’s an overview of the 15-time Major championship winner’s career and Ryder Cup records over the years:

Career Ryder Cup record (Wins, Losses, Halves): 13-21-3

Years Played: 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2018
Total Matches: 37
Singles (W-L-H): 4-2-2
Foursomes (W-L-H): 4-9-1
Four-balls (W-L-H): 5-10-0
2018: Le Golf National

Europe 17.5, United States 10.5 (Woods 0-4-0)

Day One Morning Four-Ball: Francesco Molinari/Tommy Fleetwood def. Tiger Woods/Patrick Reed (3&1)
Day Two Morning Four-Ball: Francesco Molinari/Tommy Fleetwood def. Tiger Woods/Patrick Reed (4&3)
Day Two Afternoon Foursomes: Francesco Molinari/Tommy Fleetwood def. Tiger Woods/Brson DeChambeau (5&4)
Day Three Singles: Jon Rahm def. Tiger Woods (2&1)
2012: Medinah Country Club

Europe 14.5, United States 13.5 (Woods 1-2-1)

Day One Morning Foursomes: Ian Poulter/Justin Rose def. Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (2&1)
Day One Afternoon Four-Ball: Lee Westwood/Nicolas Colsaerts def. Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (1 up)
Day Two Afternoon Four-Ball: Sergio Garcia/Luke Donald def. Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker (1 up)
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods halved against Francesco Molinari
2010: Celtic Manor Resort

Europe 14.5, United States 13.5 (Woods 3-1)

Day One Four-Ball: Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods def. Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher (2 up)
Day Two Foursomes: Tiger Woods/Steve Stricker def. Miguel Angel Jimenez/Peter Hanson (4&3)
Day Three Foursomes: Luke Donald/Lee Westwood def. Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (6&5)
Day Four Singles: Tiger Woods def. Francesco Molinari (4&3)
2006: K Club, Palmer Course

Europe 18.5, United States 9.5 (Woods 3-2)

Day One Morning Four-Ball: Tiger Woods/Jim Furyk def. Padraig Harrington/Colin Montgomerie (1 up)
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia def. Tiger Woods/Jim Furyk (2 up)
Day Two Morning Four-Ball: Darren Clarke/Lee Westwood def. Tiger Woods/Jim Furyk (3&2)
Day Two Afternoon Foursomes: Tiger Woods/Jim Furyk def. Padraig Harrington/Paul McGinley (3&2)
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods def. Robert Karlsson (3&2)
2004: Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course

Europe 18.5, United States 9.5 (Woods 2-3-0)

Day One Morning Four-Ball: Colin Montgomerie/Padraig Harrington def. Phil Mickelson/Tiger Woods (2&1)
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Darren Clarke/Lee Westwood def. Phil Mickelson/Tiger Woods (1 up)
Day Two Morning Four-Ball: Tiger Woods/Chris Riley def. Darren Clarke/Ian Poulter (4&3)
Day Two Afternoon Foursomes: Padraig Harrington/Paul McGinley def. Davis Love III/Tiger Woods (4&3)
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods def. Paul Casey (3&2)
2002: The Belfrey, Brabazon Course

Europe 15.5, United States 12.5 (Woods 2-2-1)

Day One Morning Four-Ball: Darren Clarke/Thomas Bjorn def. Tiger Woods/Paul Azinger (1 up)
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Sergio Garcia/Lee Westwood def. Tiger Woods/Mark Calcavecchia (2&1)
Day Two Morning Foursomes: Tiger Woods/Davis Love III def. Darren Clarke/Thomas Bjorn (4&3)
Day Two Afternoon Four-Ball: Tiger Woods/Davis Love III def. Sergio Garcia/Lee Westwood (1 up)
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods halved against Jesper Parnevik
1999: The Country Club

United States 14.5, Europe 13.5 (Woods 2-3-0)

Day One Morning Four-Ball: Sergio Garcia/Jesper Parnevik def. Tom Lehman/Tiger Woods (2&1)
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Darren Clarke/Lee Westwood def. David Duval/Tiger Woods (1 up)
Day Two Morning Foursomes: Tiger Woods/Steve Pate def. Miguel Angel Jimenez/Padraig Harrington (1 up)
Day Two Afternoon Four-Ball: Colin Montgomerie/Paul Lowrie def. Steve Pate/Tiger Woods (2&1)
Day Three Singles: Tiger Woods def. Andrew Coltart (3&2)
1997: Valderrama Golf Club

Europe 14.5, United States 13.5 (Woods 1-3-1)

Day One Morning Four-Ball: Mark O’Meara/Tiger Woods def. Bernhard Langer/Colin Montgomerie (3&2)
Day One Afternoon Foursomes: Bernhard Langer/Colin Montgomerie def. Mark O’Meara/Tiger Woods (5&3)
Day Two Morning Four-Ball: Nick Faldo/Lee Westwood def. Mark O’Meara/Tiger Woods (2&1)
Day Two Afternoon Foursomes: Jesper Parnevik/Ignacio Garrido halved against Justin Leonard/Tiger Woods
Day Three Singles: Costantino Rocca def. Tiger Woods (4&2)
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Edited by Pratham K Sharma