Johnson confirms Woods will play role in 2023 Ryder Cup

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Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

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U.S. Captain Zach Johnson has confirmed that 15-time Major winner Tiger Woods will be part of his team in some capacity when the Ryder Cup visits Rome in 2023.

With the 46-year old very much still in recovery mode following his near-fatal crash in February 2021, Johnson, who considers Woods a dear friend, will look to utilise the eight-time Ryder Cup capped Woods’ experience to aid his side’s mission to retain the Cup on European soil; an away win they haven’t managed since 1993.

“Only took two [questions] to get to Tiger, didn’t it,” Johnson laughed when asked where Woods fits into his plans having been a Vice Captain in 2016.

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“Well, I’ll say this. Tiger, over the last seven, eight years, we’ve just gotten closer and closer. I consider him a dear friend.

“You know, given who he is and what he’s all about, I can’t tell you right now: I don’t know where — if he will be here next year but he will be a part of this team in some capacity. He will be — he already is, frankly.

“I can’t put this mildly: He loves The Ryder Cup. He has made it a priority of his, and certainly Team USA. He wants to be a part of it as best he can. Obviously he’s gone through some things as of late that make it difficult whether it’s travel or what-have-you.

“But he and I will be in constant communication. I will welcome that. He has great ideas. Has great encouragement. He’s always positive, and you know, the beauty of where we are as Team USA is we have got some really great youth that are participating now at a high level.

“I guess the negative is, we’ve still got to compete against them but the positive is they are great kids and they compete at a high level. Their role model on the golf course is Tiger Woods. I mean, he’s two months older than me; so that dates me.

“But he’s very much a part of Team USA. I don’t know what’s going to happen next September, but you can rest assured that he will be in constant communication with our team.”

The Ryder Cup will be played at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome from September 25-October 1, 2023.

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