Being the lead of a team comes with a lot of responsibilities. First and foremost is the team strategy and coordination; however, for the US Ryder Cup team, the captain has handled most things. This includes managing logistical issues, such as equipment, storage of said equipment, and refreshments. For this Ryder Cup, the US team captain can rest easy, as the team now has a dedicated manager in John Wood.
Who Is John Wood?
John Wood is a retired caddie who has worked on the Ryder Cup six times. He has been to a total of nine. The other three are as a team assistant and as a reporter. Reporting is what he has been doing after he retired as a caddie ,much like Billy Foster was poised for this year. Last June, Wood received a call asking him to manage the team. He would later say that he couldn’t answer yes soon enough.
Wood On The Position
John Wood was incredibly excited to take this position. In an interview with Golfweek during the Procore Championship, he revealed that he and the then CEO of the PGA of America, Seth Waugh, were talking about creating a manager position for some time. The idea is that this is a permanent fixture for the US team from here on. The captain can worry about being a captain, and the manager can worry about the busy work. What Wood did not expect was to get that phone call from Waugh.
“I love the Ryder Cup more than anything I’ve ever gotten to do in this game, and when he called and started talking about the position, what they were thinking of doing, my honest reaction was, this is really cool that they’re asking me who I think should do this job. I thought they were calling me for suggestions, like, who might be good? And I was honored at that…I couldn’t get yes out of my mouth fast enough. It’s like Santa Claus saying you want to ride on my sleigh with me, you know?”
Previously, John Wood believed his golf days were behind him. He spent most of his career as a caddie, and that experience will help him out here. Wood caddied during previous Ryder Cups and has experience specifically in this field. He has said that a caddie’s work can make the difference, even if it is just one point. His goal has been to make things just a little bit easier for the players so that they can focus better on the game. Here, he can do exactly that, even if it is just slightly behind the scenes.
At The Ryder Cup
For the Ryder Cup, fans can expect to see John Wood working behind the scenes. All while Keegan Bradley worries about the sports side of being a team captain. Now that the team captain only has to worry about the sport, he can focus his efforts on keeping the team in top condition. It is time for the Ryder Cup to begin; the best players are arriving on the field, and the fans are gathering. Now to see what the Ryder Cup has to offer.
Main Photo Credit: © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
