[PHOTO: Streeter Lecka]
The best way to answer a question you don’t want to answer is to answer with a question, and Jim Furyk has been around long enough to know how effectively this works. Particularly when it comes to a question about Tiger Woods.
Furyk, the US Presidents Cup captain, attended a video press conference overnight (Australian time), and it was only a matter of time before Woods’ name came up. It’s no secret that Woods has been a key participant – either out front or behind the scenes – in just about every Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup the past decade, including, of course, his successful turn as playing captain in the 2019 Presidents Cup in Melbourne.
US Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk has dubious bit of history to avoid in Montreal
Undoubtedly, that hasn’t changed. But a question from a media member in Canada wanted to know if Woods would be an active participant of the US contingent in attendance at the 15th Presidents Cup in September at Royal Montreal.
“What are the odds we’ll see Tiger Woods there in some capacity?” asked Bob Weeks of Toronto Sports Network.
Responded Furyk, “Uh, I wonder what the odds in Vegas would be on that right now?”
The 53-year-old captain then caught himself. “Probably not even allowed to talk about that, Bob, because it would be odds in the gambling side of things,” he said. “But, you know, I’m curious, what are the odds he’s gonna be the Ryder Cup captain? What do you think about that? Can I turn it around and ask you, is he gonna accept that position?”
OK, well, that’s asking a bunch of questions to answer a question. But Furyk sounded like any other golf fan who has a genuine curiosity about what Tiger might do. Woods, by the way, hasn’t played for the US since 2019. He last played in the Ryder Cup in 2018 in Paris under Furyk. It has been speculated that Woods could be the Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black or 2027 in Ireland.
“I know there was some some talk about it in his [press conference] at the Masters, so I’m kind of waiting to see and hear what happens there,” Furyk said.
Indeed, Woods was asked at Augusta National prior to the Masters about the potential to lead the US team in the 45th Ryder Cup.
“We’re still talking about it,” Woods said, smiling. “It’s something that Seth [Waugh, PGA of America chief executive] and I are going to sit back and talk about it after this event. I said I’m going to be busy for a couple of weeks, so let me focus on getting through this week and, hopefully, getting another jacket, and then we can sit back and talk about it next week.”
Next week would be this week.
Furyk and the rest of the golf world might soon get an answer.
