Today at Kiawah Island, in a press conference ahead of the PGA Championship, U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker said he hopes Tiger Woods will be part of this fall’s Ryder Cup experience, and even offered him a vice captain’s slot.
“I’ve talked to him; I don’t know if we are there yet to commit to him being there,” said Stricker. “He’s still got a lot going on, and his spirits are great, though, as of late.
“We were on a Zoom call with him just last week, and he seems like he’s in a better place. He’s still got some ways to go.
“But I’d love to have him there. Who wouldn’t, right?
“The guys really respect him, and he did a great job as [Presidents Cup] captain [in 2019], and he was an assistant of mine in 2017 [at the Presidents Cup] and he was unbelievable.
“He would do anything for you, and he’s totally, totally vested in the situation and the process, almost to the point of, he’s on it early and so much, it’s like, ‘Dude, we’ve still got months to go yet.’
“He’s really good at being an assistant, and I’d love to have him be there if it’s at all possible.”
Woods, who sustained serious leg injuries following a one-vehicle car accident in the Los Angeles area following the Genesis Invitational on Feb. 23, recently posted a photo of himself to social media and appeared to be in good spirits.
Davis Love III, Zach Johnson and Jim Furyk are Stricker’s confirmed assistants for the 2021 fall matches at Whistling Straits (WI), Sept. 24 to 26. He will reportedly name two more with Woods and Mickelson the front runners.
