After one of his poorest-ever efforts in a Ryder Cup and Tiger Woods is already looking ahead to one day captaining the USA Team.

The 14-time Major winner was the biggest disappointment at Medinah and just managing to secure a half-a-point in his seventh Ryder Cup appearance, and that was only after conceding the final putt of the competition to Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

Tiger Woods competing on mainland Europe for a first time since 2003. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“I had an opportunity to earn three points in the team sessions and I didn’t do that,” said Woods.

“My point there at the end didn’t matter as it was all said and done.

“But it didn’t set in for me for a few days as to what happened in Medinah

“I had two sick kids I had to care for and they also had to go to school. They had fevers and I was focussed on them for a couple of days.

“I then started to talk to my friends and team mates and once it all started to sink in, and the position we had been in and what transpired, yes it was tough for a couple of days.

“I texted Freddie (Couples) and Steve (Stricker) quite a bit, and like anything it is a tournament lost and you have to move on and focus on the next event.

“We lose far more than we win in this sport and you learn to move on and the next event is this week here in Turkey, and I’ve got a good match-up with Charl (Schwartzel).”

And while Woods, now aged 36, will still like to qualify automatically for the USA team, he hinted he would eventually embrace the role of the USA Ryder Cup captain.

“I still want to be playing on a lot more teams but certainly one day when my golfing life is slowing down, and when it’s over, that would be a huge honour to be a part of a Ryder Cup from a captaincy side.”

And Woods indicated that despite Team USA losing four of the last five Ryder Cups it has not lessened the resolve of the team to defeat Europe at Gleneagles in two year’s time.

“Our resolve has not changed since I was first in that team in 1997 as we have always been a team that wants to win the Ryder Cup or for that matter the Presidents Cup,” he said.

“And no loss feels good!”

Woods arrived in Turkey late this afternoon local time after a 10 ½ flight on his own private jet from Orlando for this week’s $US 5.2m Turkish Airlines World Golf Final in Antalya.

It’s his first visit to mainland Europe since 2003 and he arrived to see billboards scattered all about the region promoting the eight man event carrying a first prize of $US 1.5m simply stating:  “Tiger v Rory”.

“I don’t face Rory to Wednesday but it’s just nice to be here as this is my first time in Turkey,” he said.

“I am trying to play all play around the world. I am playing in Malaysia in a few weeks time and that will be nice as I have not played there since Mark O’Meara and I won the World Cup in ’99.”