Padraig Harrington shares what Europe didn’t know about Tiger Woods ahead of the 1997 Ryder Cup

Woods is expected to captain the US Ryder Cup side in 2027, though nothing has been confirmed yet. That role could offer him a chance to change his legacy within the event.

Padraig Harrington recently spoke about why Tiger’s usual intimidation factor didn’t always carry over into Ryder Cup matches. Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Harrington explained:

“At times you could be playing a Tiger who wasn’t sure where he was hitting it. He’s not really holing any putts. It would get messy.”

Tiger Woods: The Ryder Cup truth European players didn’t know in 1997

Still early in his career, Tiger made his first Ryder Cup appearance at Valderrama in 1997. He had already won The Masters, but many on the European side hadn’t seen much of him in person.

Padraig Harrington, speaking to the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, said that facing Tiger was something every European player quietly wanted a shot at.

“Every time anybody played against Tiger at the Ryder Cup, it was a no-lose situation for them. If they won the match it was huge for the team, if they lost the match that was expected.”

“People always wanted to get their chance against Tiger. They didn’t say it out publicly like Stephen Ames back in the day. You just kept your head down, went out there and hoped it worked out.”

What European players missed about Tiger Woods before the 1997 Ryder Cup

Tiger was still relatively new to the professional scene when he first played in the Ryder Cup in 1997 at Valderrama. He’d already won The Masters, but European fans and players hadn’t really seen much of him yet.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Harrington explained how, at that time, going up against Woods was something every European player looked forward to.

“Every time anybody played against Tiger at the Ryder Cup, it was a no-lose situation for them. If they won the match it was huge for the team, if they lost the match that was expected.”

“People always wanted to get their chance against Tiger, they didn’t say it out publicly like Stephen Ames back in the day, you just kept your head down, went out there and hoped it worked out.”

Tiger Woods’ record in the Ryder Cup

Given his career achievements, Tiger’s record in this event stands out as a surprise.

Ryder Cup results Woods’ totals

• Matches played 37
• Wins 13
• Losses 21
• Halves 3

Tiger always had a single-minded approach to competition. He thrived when playing individually and seemed less comfortable within a team setting.

It’s hard to imagine he’d trade any of his 82 PGA Tour wins or 15 major titles for more Ryder Cup points. That alone says something about what drives elite players at that level.