Na fuels rumour about Woods heading 2022 Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods will be appointed USA Captain for the 2022 Ryder Cup in Rome…at least that is what many close observers believe will transpire.

And American Kevin Na added fuel to the fire after letting slip suggestions Woods’ appointment will be rubber-stamped by the PGA of America.

Kevin Na (Credit: PGA Tour)

The 36-year-old dropped a huge hint in an interview with SKY Sports ahead of his defence at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth starting June 11th.

“My goal is to make the Ryder Cup team this year, and I know the following Ryder Cup is in Italy and the captain I believe is Tiger Woods, so that’s another thing that I’m looking forward to,” said Na.

The four-time PGA Tour winner could have stopped there given Woods led the States to a stunning ‘come-from-behind’ victory at the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia.

No, Na was asked to elaborate if that speculation was correct.

He said: “I heard rumours! Am I starting a rumour? That’s what I heard.”

“Am I not supposed to say anything? I don’t know, I’ve heard rumours! I won’t tell you who I heard them from, but it wasn’t from him. It was from one of his friends!”

Na is also a good friend of Woods as was clearly evident last year on day three of the Players Championship when Na hit his approach shot to just three-feet on the famed island-green par-3 17th at TPC Sawgrass.

Woods then teed-off to get even closer to the pin than Na.

And when Na rolled his putt slowly towards the hole, he was so confident about the line it was on that he reached down to grab it, nearly picking up the ball before it fell to the bottom of the cup.

Woods, clearly entertained, grinned, then cracked up into laughter. Then he tried to mimic Na’s effort with his own putt, holing the birdie try and grabbing it as quickly as possible.

While Na may have trouble keeping a secret, he’s been very upfront about his desire to qualify automatically for Steve Stricker’s USA Team later this year at Whistling Straits.

The 2020 Ryder Cup is still scheduled for Sept. 17-25, but there have been discussions to possibly push it back a year or to host it without spectators.

Both options have of course generated criticism and with September getting closer and closer each day, they will be forced to make a firm decision very soon.