Tiger Woods made unprecedented Team USA move with awkward third-person announcement

The 2024 Presidents Cup saw Keegan Bradley ditch his role as assistant captain to star as a player.

Initially set to take on a leadership role, the American was later named as one of Jim Furyk’s six captain’s picks to compete against the International team at Royal Montreal Golf Club.

Bradley ditched his assistant captain role to play at the 2024 Presidents Cup
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Bradley ditched his assistant captain role to play at the 2024 Presidents CupCredit: Getty
The US went on to win the competition, securing their 10th consecutive victory in the series.

Bradley, who is also set to captain Team USA at the Ryder Cup this year, has been among those to insist being a player-captain is not advisable.

And that might be true for mere mortals.

But for the great Tiger Woods in 2019, it was light work.

The 15-time major winner was chosen to lead USA at the biennial Presidents Cup when his professional future was in doubt.

Woods underwent spinal fusion surgery in February 2017 and lobbied for the position after the Presidents Cup at Liberty National later that year.

However, when the decision was announced in March 2018, Woods was building one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of sport.

By the time Woods needed to announce his wildcard picks in November, he had two more wins on the PGA Tour, equalling the all-time record of 82.

Not to mention, he was the reigning Masters champion.

Suddenly, the then-43-year-old was in line to become the first playing-captain since Hale Irwin in 1994.

Woods was arguably the best player at the 2019 Presidents Cup, despite being captain
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Woods was arguably the best player at the 2019 Presidents Cup, despite being captainCredit: Getty

Woods justified his selection with three points out of three at the event
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Woods justified his selection with three points out of three at the eventCredit: Getty
But having narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, Woods needed to become the first captain to ever to pick himself for the Presidents Cup.

“As captain, I’m going to choose Tiger Woods as the last player on the team,” Woods said during the Golf Channel broadcast.

“He’s made, what, nine Cups? He’s played in Australia twice in the Presidents Cup. So this will be his third appearance there as a player.

“And uh, I find it interesting I’m talking in third-person.”

Being a captain at one of golf’s big team events takes a lot of work, but Woods managed to juggle both roles masterfully.

The superstar golfer played in three matches at Australia’s Royal Melbourne and won all of them.

Bradley could be set to follow the role of Woods at the Ryder Cup in 2025
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Bradley could be set to follow the role of Woods at the Ryder Cup in 2025Credit: AFP
With the USA at risk of a shocking defeat to the International team, Woods teamed up with Justin Thomas for two huge points on Thursday and Friday, before benching himself on Saturday.

Woods returned to lead USA out in Sunday Singles, taking on the International team’s best player in Mexico’s Abraham Ancer.

The American made seven birdies in 16 holes to send Ancer for an early bath with a 3&2 win, helping USA come back from 10-8 down to win 16-14.

While Woods made headlines as a rare player-captain at the Presidents Cup in 2019, six years later, and Bradley has a serious chance to make some history of his own.

The American has been in fine form in 2025, and now there is serious suggestion he could play for the team he was supposed to captain at the Ryder Cup.

After snatching a dramatic Travelers Championship victory over the weekend, Bradley teased that he has ‘opened the door’ to playing at Bethpage Black.

There has not been a playing captain at the Ryder Cup since Arnold Palmer in 1963.

“I mean, listen, this (winning) changes the story a little bit,” he said in his victory press conference.

Bradley, currently US captain, could choose to play at the Ryder Cup later this year
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Bradley, currently US captain, could choose to play at the Ryder Cup later this yearCredit: Getty
“I never would have thought about playing if I hadn’t won. This definitely opens the door to play.

“I don’t know if I’m going to do it or not, but I certainly have to take a pretty hard look at what’s best for the team and we’ll see. It’s still June, so we’ve still got a long way to go.

“This definitely changes things a little bit, and we’ll all get together and figure out the best way to do this.”