John Daly isn’t done chasing Ryder Cup dreams. The golf icon says he would “love to be a co-captain or just be a part of” the 2027 U.S. effort. And with his experience, patriotism, and trademark bluntness, he could be one of the most intriguing voices in the team room.
Daly never played a Ryder Cup, but he insists he still has something to offer as Tiger Woods emerges once again as the leading candidate to captain the Americans at Adare Manor.
Daly’s Ryder Cup ambition
Daly, 59, told Hard Rock Bet during a recent interview that his “ancestors are from Cork” (just about 60 miles away from Adare Manor) and admitted he has always wanted to be involved when the Ryder Cup returned to Ireland.
“I’d love to be a captain one day, but that ain’t never going to happen,” he said. He added that Woods “would be an unbelievable captain” and that he would “love to be a co-captain or just be a part of it somehow.”
Even wearing U.S. team gear would be a dream fulfilled. “To be a part of the Ryder Cup would be something I would love to do … I’d love to see it, put my input in, and hopefully help the guys.”
A glaring hole on his résumé
Despite winning the 1991 PGA Championship and the 1995 Open Championship, Daly remains the only multiple major champion who has never played a Ryder Cup. He told Hard Rock Bet that he believed he could have helped the U.S. team in at least two cycles, but “didn’t play good enough” at the right moments. He also acknowledged that his reputation in the golf world from the 1990s likely worked against him.
What Daly says he’d change
Daly didn’t just voice his interest—he offered a pointed critique of the American approach at the last Ryder Cup. His pitch focused on specific adjustments to foursomes and four-balls. He took issue with the U.S. strategy of pairing “a long hitter with a shorter hitter,” arguing that in alternate shot, “you can’t club off (Bryson DeChambeau)” if you’re significantly shorter. In his view, pairings should group players with similar distance off the tee.
He pointed to the Justin Thomas-Jordan Spieth partnership as the ideal example. They were “not the longest hitters in the world,” yet they “fed off each other” and thrived in alternate shot. Daly believes that pairing players with similar distance profiles could give the U.S. an edge in formats that traditionally favor Europe.
Intangibles Daly could bring
For Daly, the Ryder Cup is about the flag, not the swag. “Me, personally, I couldn’t care less about getting any gifts. I play for the flag of the United States,” he said. He believes the Americans need to act “more of a family” and mirror Europe’s unity.
His presence could energize the team room, thanks to his blunt honesty, relatable personality, and deep popularity with fans. He might help loosen a historically tight U.S. squad while still demanding that players “get behind the United States of America — the flag — and not worry about what we can get out of it.”
Tiger Woods in the 2027 picture
While Daly dreams of a supporting role, Woods remains the central figure in the 2027 discussion. The PGA of America expects to name a captain in early 2026, and Woods is the betting favorite, even though he recently said “no one’s asked me about” Adare Manor yet.
Woods declined the 2025 captaincy at Bethpage Black due to schedule and health concerns, but left the door open for the future. Last edition captain, Keegan Bradley, has called Woods the “natural choice” if he wants the job. If that happens, Daly’s best chance to finally influence a Ryder Cup may come as the loudest voice just behind Tiger.