USA appoints Team Manager for 2025 Ryder Cup – Golf News

In what is a first for the Ryder Cup, the US team committee has created the new role of team manager for the 2025 matches in New York.

Despite having not yet named a captain to the lead the US team next year,  The PGA of America has announced the appointment of six-time Ryder Cup caddie Mark Wood to the new role of Team Manager.

Beginning with the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, the US Ryder Cup Committee said that Wood will “work closely with the US team captain, vice captains, team members and PGA of America senior management on all strategic and operational matters related to the US Ryder Cup team”.

Wood will provide guidance across a variety of team management areas including player selection, recruitment, motivational strategies, logistical coordination and fostering a positive team environment.

Wood has served as a caddie for four US players in six Ryder Cups, working with Mark Calcavecchia in 2002; Chris Riley in 2004; Hunter Mahan in 2008, 2010 and 2014, and Matt Kuchar in 2016. He also worked as a team assistant during the 2018 Ryder Cup in France.

Following his 20-plus year career as a caddie on the PGA Tour, Wood joined NBC Sports’ golf coverage as an on-course reporter in 2021. He covered the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits and the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy.

“We are thrilled to have John join our team as the new US Ryder Cup Team Manager,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “John is a passionate and dedicated individual. His years of experience in domestic and international team competitions as well as his deep understanding of match play dynamics will be a tremendous asset as we create a strategic plan that delivers success at all future Ryder Cups. I’m not sure that we could have invented a better fit for this role in terms of experience, enthusiasm and relevance.”

“There is nothing, and I mean nothing, in my professional career, that I have been more passionate about than the Ryder Cup,” said Wood. “I have been blessed to be a part of six Ryder Cup Teams as a caddie and two as an NBC Sports on-course reporter and I have treasured every single minute of those special, memorable experiences.

“I am honored to work alongside my friends from the PGA of America, the PGA Ryder Cup Committee, and future Ryder Cup Captains, Vice Captains and team members to help our Captains and teams get ready to compete in one of the greatest sporting events the world has ever seen. I am grateful to NBC Sports for making it possible for me to take on this role, truly a dream job.”

Europe will once again be captained by Luke Donald in 2025, following what was seen as a textbook captaincy in Rome in 2023, when Europe enjoyed a 16.5-11.5 victory.