Crowd Incident Sparks U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Debate

The United States’ 15-13 loss at the 2025 Ryder Cup — which included crowd trouble, notably a beer-can incident near Rory McIlroy, and high-profile spectators such as Donald Trump and Michael Jordan — has prompted an immediate inquest and a heated debate over the 2027 U.S. captaincy at Adare Manor. Tiger Woods is an early favorite for his stature and influence, but critics point to his limited recent Ryder Cup involvement, mixed match record and potential time constraints and warn he may not provide the cultural reset the U.S. needs. Brandel Chamblee has endorsed Justin Leonard, while Stewart Cink has publicly declared interest, saying he interviewed at Bethpage and wants to borrow more of Europe’s preparation methods. Phil Mickelson has proposed looking outside golf for a coach-style leader (e.g., Mike Krzyzewski or Lou Holtz), and commentators are urging the PGA of America to develop a clear succession plan and contingency options rather than rely on ad-hoc appointments.