Orlando, FL ….

Tiger Woods, and just a fortnight after not ruling himself out of qualifying for this year’s Ryder Cup in being appointed a Versailles vice-captain, has now raised hopes of being a playing captain in next year’s Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia.

Woods, who will be just shy of his 44th birthday ahead of a first US team captaincy role,  admitted it has come sooner than he thought but insists it was a ‘natural progression’ following confirmation in Orlando (Tuesday) he will captain the 2019 USA team against long-time arch rival Ernie Els and named as the International Team captain.

Woods was a Hazeltine Ryder Cup vice-captain and enjoyed a similar role late last year at the Presidents Cup and was picked 14 days ago by Jim Furyk as a 2018 Ryder Cup vice-captain.

“I did not think a captaincy role would come this quickly but in hindsight it is perfect timing and a natural progression in my career,” Woods said.

“And as for being a playing Presidents Cup captain I would like to get to that point that if I am playing well enough where I could either make the team on points.

“But it will be a conversation I will have with my vice-captains and the team.

“Though I’ve enjoyed being twice a vice-captain under Davis (Love 111) at Hazeltine and the under ‘Strick’ (Steve Stricker) at the Presidents Cup last November.

“So, here I am as a 2019 Presidents Cup captain and now I am excited after playing in eight President Cups to be leading the team to Melbourne.”

Rickie Fowler, who should be on Tiger’s ‘Down Under’ team, remarked: “It is something we have looked forward to and that is the opportunity to play for Tiger and the way it looks we could easily have a playing captain which would be pretty cool.”

Rickie Fowler likes the idea Tiger Woods could by a 2019 playing Presidents Cup captain

Only once, and that was Hale Irwin in the inaugural 1994 Presidents Cup, has the USA Team had a playing captain.

Woods appointment as a Presidents Cup captain, and coming just a fortnight after he was named a 2018 USA Ryder vice-captain, should certainly now see him appointed as 2022 USA Ryder Cup Captain in Rome.

Steve Stricker, as the 2017 USA Presidents Cup Captain, should have the ‘committee’ vote to lead the 2020 USA Ryder Cup side at Whistling Straits and then Woods two years later.