Tiger Woods signs on to be 2017 Presidents Cup vice captain

Tiger Woods had so much fun helping the U.S. win the Ryder Cup last weekend that he has agreed to help the national team again.

Steve Stricker, captain of the 2017 Presidents Cup, named Woods as one of six vice captains on Wednesday. But he hopes to have Woods, a 14-time major champion, as a player.


"It's a great pickup for us on our side to have him commit to be at least an assistant captain," Stricker said in a news conference Wednesday. "Like I said before, I hope he's playing. But what he showed last week (Ryder Cup) was pretty impressive, as well. He really got invested in the team. He was working on pairings weeks, and maybe even a month ahead of time, possible pairings, depending on who we were going to pick as the other players on the team.


"The guys loved having him around there. He was perfect. I don't know any other way of saying it. He was really good. And he spent a lot of time and energy in trying to help out Davis and the team. So we're lucky. We're lucky he will do it. I think for us, again, and like I said, hopefully he'll be playing. Hopefully he'll be a part of the team as a player."


The 2017 Presidents Cup competition will be played at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. The U.S. won in 2015 in Incheon, South Korea, against a team of international players. The Presidents Cup is contested every two years, alternating with Ryder Cup competition.


Woods is scheduled to his first start on the PGA Tour's 2016-17 season at next week's Safeway Open. He has not played since multiple back surgeries at the end of the 2014-15 season.


Stricker and Woods are friends who were often paired in international competitions.


"It's just a tremendous honor. Steve is one of my best friends," Woods said in a statement. "It's been a lot of fun getting to know him and Nicki and the kids, so for him to have the confidence in me, to be part of the crew and help him in any way I possibly can — I'm thrilled to be his assistant."
This will be the 12th Presidents Cup. The U.S. (9-1-1) lost in 1998. 

By Alec Brzezinski

Omnisport