(CNN) He led the US to Ryder Cup victory earlier this year and now Davis Love III is tipping Tiger Woods as a future American captain.
Former world No. 1 Woods recently returned to the course after an injury-plagued sixteen months, having also served as one of Love's vice captains at Hazeltine during the US's first triumph over its European counterparts since 2008.
And Love is convinced the 14-time major winner has what it takes to skipper the Americans in future Ryder Cup matches.
"Tiger will make a great Ryder Cup captain down the road," Love told CNN.
READ: Tiger Woods going "back to where it all started"
"He was incredible. If you have Tiger Woods sitting in your team room and he doesn't have any clubs you know he's committed."
It's been quite a few weeks for the 52-year-old Love, who learned he'd been inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame shortly before hosting his very own PGA Tour event.
A fine way to top off a year which will be remembered for a 17-11 success over team Europe.
Tiger Woods: From highs to lows
Tiger Woods clinched his fifth Masters and 15th major title with victory at Augusta in April.
The former world No. 1 had not won the Masters since 2005, and it was his first major win since 2008.
A month after winning the Masters, Woods received the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Donald Trump.
Woods won the season-ending Tour Championship in September 2018. It was his first title in five years following a succession of back injuries.
Signs that Woods was back to his best were obvious at August's PGA Championship, where he finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka. It followed an impressive showing at July's British Open, where he briefly topped the leaderboard.
Woods made an impressive return to competitive golf in 2018 after multiple back surgeries in recent years. He played his first Masters in three years in April 2018.
The four-time champion had back fusion surgery -- his fourth procedure -- in April 2017 and returned to the game pain-free in December. He finished tied 32nd at Augusta.
Woods was touted as one of the favorites after impressing in his early-season events. He also set tongues wagging by playing a practice round with old rival Phil Mickelson, right.
Woods finished tied second at the Valspar Championship in March 2018 and followed it up with a tie for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The hype needle moved into overdrive.
Woods set out on his legendary path by becoming the youngest winner of the Masters -- at 21 -- with a record 12-shot win in 1997.
One of his most remarkable feats was winning his first US Open by an unprecedented 15 shots at Pebble Beach, California, in 2000, sparking a streak never seen before or since.
Woods' victory in the 2001 Masters meant he held all four of golf's major titles at the same time, dubbed the "Tiger Slam."
Woods' win rate, his dedication to fitness training and his desire to succeed were changing golf. Prize money rocketed because of Woods. Off the course, he married girlfriend Elin Nordegren in 2004.
Woods showed rare emotion when he broke down in tears on the shoulder of caddie Steve Williams following his win in the 2006 British Open at Hoylake, months after his father and mentor Earl passed away.
Despite being visibly hampered and in pain from a knee injury, Woods won the US Open in breathtaking fashion at Torrey Pines, California, in 2008. It was his 14th major title to leave him only four behind the record of Jack Nicklaus. He was later diagnosed with knee ligament damage and two fractures of his left tibia. He missed the rest of the season after surgery. It is still his last major title.
In December 2009, Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant outside his home. As the big picture emerged it was discovered Woods had been conducting a series of extra martial affairs. He took three months away from the game to sort out his private life.
In February 2010 Woods addressed the world's media to explain and apologise for his actions. His infidelity led to divorce and was the beginning of a downhill slide in Woods' playing career. By October he lost the world No. 1 ranking, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeks
Back in the fold, Woods earned his first win in two years at the
Chevron World Challenge in December 2011, a charity tournament he hosts that does not count on the PGA Tour money list.
Woods was back in the winner's circle in 2013, lifting five titles, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, to get back to the top of the rankings.
In March 2013, Woods and Lindsey Vonn announced
they were dating on Facebook. In January that year, the champion skier had finalized her divorce from Thomas Vonn, after initializing proceedings in 2011. In May 2015, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup, with the golfer claiming he "hadn't slept" in the days following.
Later in 2013 there were signs all was not well as Woods was seen to be in pain as he picked the ball out of the hole at the Barclays tournament in August. He missed the Masters the following April for the first time since 1994 to undergo back surgery.
Woods pulled out of the Farmers Insurance Open in February 2015, and struggled with injury and form for the rest of the season.
Woods cut a dejected figure at that year's US Open as he struggled with his game and carded rounds of 80 and 76 to miss the cut.
In August 2015 Woods made his last appearance for 15 months to undergo follow-up back surgeries. At one stage during his rehabilitation, Woods spoke of there being "no light at the end of the tunnel" -- and with one eye on his fading career, he suggested "everything beyond this will be gravy."
Woods made a much-anticipated return to golf in December 2016, showing signs of promise with the highest number of birdies in the field -- 24 -- but he also made a number of costly errors to finish third from last in the 18-man event.
He missed the cut in his first event of 2017 in the US and pulled out after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February, citing back spasms. He underwent a fourth back prodecure in April.
The golf legend
was arrested Monday, May 29, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was booked into a local jail in Florida and released a few hours later. He said in a statement he had "an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications."
In August Woods entered a first-offender program and pleaded guilty to reckless driving on October 28. He will avoid jail unless he commits major violations of his probation.
Woods returned to golf after 301 days at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on November 30 2017. He carded a three-under first-round 69 and appeared pain-free and hungry to resume his career.
As he reflected on the America's 17-11 success over team Europe at the ecent RSM Classic tournament, Love was quick to point out the groundwork for success at Hazeltine began two years ago, after a third straight defeat in golf's biggest grudge match.
"We were all very honest," he revealed. "We sat down in a room and then we pointed fingers and we pointed out mistakes and we made a game-plan that we felt would work and we committed to it."
READ: 20 years of Tiger Woods
That game plan worked a treat as Europe were prevented from making it a record fourth straight victory.
It was especially sweet for Love, the man who captained his country through an infamous final-day meltdown at the 2012 competition at Medinah.
The build up to Hazeltine was overshadowed by the death of the legendary Arnold Palmer at the age of 87. Love III played under Palmer at the 1996 Presidents Cup.
"Arnold had time for everyone no matter what it was, the guy mowing the greens or the guy that owned the course," Love said of the seven-time major winner.
"He treated them all equally and he was just a great man and a great leader for us."
Quite fitting, then, that the Americans showed the kind of the unity that hadn't been witnessed since Valhalla in 2008.
That unity was epitomized by two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson who, despite missing out on selection, volunteered his services as a vice captain alongside Woods.
Victory was ultimately sealed by one of Love's own captain's picks, Ryan Moore. It was something he himself had done as a player 23 years earlier.
On that occasion he'd failed to retrieve his ball amid the victory celebrations. He wasn't about to let Moore make the same mistake.
But it turned out Moore had other ideas.
"He came back about an hour later and he said I want you to have it," said Love. "He knew what it would mean to me, what it meant to him."
US wins Ryder Cup
US captain Davis Love III holds the Ryder Cup aloft after his team beat Europe in the 2016 edition.
US players celebrate on the 18th green as their team closed out victory over Europe.
Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth of the United States celebrate with champagne after winning the Ryder Cup for their team.
Henrik Stenson of Europe hits off the first tee during singles matches of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club on October 2 in Chaska, Minnesota.
Patrick Reed of the United States reacts to making a putt on the first green. His victory over Rory McIlroy in the top match proved crucial.
Lee Westwood of Europe hits out of a bunker on the first hole during singles matches. His opponent Ryan Moore later sealed the victory for the US.
United States' Matt Kuchar hits to the second hole.
J.B. Holmes of the United States takes a drop on the eighth hole.
Rory McIlroy of Europe on the eighth green but the tide was to turn against him.
Actor Bill Murray watches the play during on the third day.
Team USA's Jordan Spieth fist bumps his caddy Michael Greller during the singles matches. He eventually lost to Henrik Stenson in a rare last day win for Europe.
The caddie for Patrick Reed of USA, Kessler Karain, checks the line for a putt on the seventh green.
Police pick up an occupant of a sea plane that landed near the seventh green during singles matches.
Stenson reacts to a missed putt on the second green but he was to beat Spieth 3&2..
Rickie Fowler of the United States plays a shot on the first hole on his way to a crucial win over Olympic champion Justin Rose.
McIlroy fails to sink a chip shot on the 12th hole.
Justin Rose congratulates Chris Woods on his putt on the 10th hole, but both were to go down to final day defeats.
United States' Patrick Reed and Europe's Rory McIlroy walk off the eighth hole together during a singles match.
He may be a victorious Ryder Cup captain but Love's playing career is still going strong.
Last year, at the age of 52, he became the third oldest winner on the PGA Tour. And he also has high hopes for his college-age son Dru or, if you prefer, Davis Love IV.
"Everyone says does he want to follow in your footsteps? I say no, he wants to follow in Rory McIlroy's footsteps!" he says of his son.
"He wants to win a lot of major championships and be the number one player in the world."
In fact Love feels overall the future of the sport is very bright indeed.
"We thought we'd have to have Tiger for anyone to watch golf. Well, no, they like watching Jordan Spieth. They're thrilled with Jordan. And the great thing is that Rickie Fowler, Jordan, Jason Day and Rory ... they're great ambassadors of the game.
"We're so lucky our top players are such great young men as well. So I think golf's in a great place right now."
Love has pretty much seen it all over the years, including the historical links between golf and US Presidents.
A tradition which will surely continue with President elect Donald Trump.
"He may play more than any past President," said Love. "But I've been around President-Elect Trump a little bit. He's very ambitious and he's very motivated ... he wants his courses to be the best."
It seems golf is alive and well in the Oval Office.