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How Tiger Woods’ latest surgery could impact his chances of leading Team USA in 2027

Originally posted on HITC | By Jordan Harris | Last updated Oct 13, 2025 7:59 AM ET

Tiger Woods’ hopes of returning to action anytime soon have taken a hit, with the 15-time major winner confirming he underwent back surgery last week.

This year has been another frustrating chapter for Woods. There was some early optimism after he got through the first season of TGL without any major issues, but playing full rounds is an entirely different challenge.

And now, at 49 years old, he’s dealing with another setback after having back surgery to address a collapsed disc.

That points towards another lengthy spell out of action for Woods, who has become all too familiar with extended layoffs over the years.

Despite latest injury, Tiger Woods remains a strong candidate for US Ryder Cup captaincy

Appearances at the Hero World Challenge and the PNC Championship in December now seem unlikely, and there are also questions about whether he’ll be able to participate in the second season of TGL.

That has raised questions over whether this latest injury will have any impact on his chances of taking on the Ryder Cup role.

Photo by J.D. Cuban/Allsport/Getty Images

Before Keegan Bradley took on the Bethpage job, Woods had already turned it down. But given his ties to JP McManus, many feel that Adare Manor in 2027 could be an ideal setting for him to step into the role.

Appearing on Golf Central, Jaime Diaz suggested that he doesn’t see this setback interfering with those plans if Woods still wants to take up the position.

“I think next year would be the first year in between the next Ryder Cup and if he wants to do it, it’s in Ireland and is in a place where he’s very familiar with JP McManus and others, I think he still has plenty of time to do it,” said Diaz. “I think too much is made of the two-year run-up for captaincy. I don’t think he has to do a lot next year and if he is getting healthy and wants to do it, I think he can have a very productive Ryder Cup in 2027.”

Tiger Woods explains why he passed on the Ryder Cup captaincy for Bethpage

How long Woods is out could play a big role in what happens next. Bradley wasn’t officially named until July 2024, so the PGA of America might not be in any rush to make a decision soon.

Woods will obviously be focused on his recovery, but this latest setback might even make him more likely to take the 2027 captaincy.

He was part of the discussions with LIV Golf’s PIF and played a key role in bringing Brian Rolapp on as PGA Tour CEO. After Bradley was chosen as captain, Woods explained why he had decided against taking on the job.

“With my new responsibilities to the Tour and time commitments involved, I felt like I would not be able to commit the time to Team USA and the players required as a captain,” he said.

“That does not mean I wouldn’t want to captain a team in the future. If and when I feel it is the right time, I will put my hat in the ring for this committee to decide.”

If his recovery keeps him away from playing for an extended period, it may give him ample time to assess how Team USA can approach their first away win since 1993.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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