Tiger Woods toasts USA Ryder Cup triumph with Dustin Johnson’s fiancee Paulina Gretzky ahead of Tour return

• 41st staging of the Ryder Cup was won by USA for first time since 2008
• Tiger Woods took part as vice-captain for Davis Love at Hazeltine
• Having dominated proceedings all weekend the USA prevailed 17-11
• Woods hopes to return to playing competitively in a fortnight

The Team USA celebrations must have gone well into the night having reclaimed the Ryder Cup.

Tiger Woods toasted the emphatic 17-11 victory, posing for a picture on Dustin Johnson’s fiancee Paulina Gretzky’s Instagram account.

Perhaps it was unusual to see Woods on the sidelines at Hazeltine but the 14-time Major winner thrived in his role as a vice-captain.

Woods sprayed the champagne at the trophy ceremony on Sunday night at a sun kissed Hazeltine and evidently enjoyed being involved in America’s first triumph since 2008.

The 40-year-old tweeted following the victory: ‘Honored to be with these guys all week and rep USA. #RyderCup’

He then told the Golf Channel, ‘We were a team. Whether I was playing or not I was a part of a team. Our team won, my role was to help the team however possible, and I hope I’ve done that.’

USA captain Davis Love III gave a glowing praise of Woods’ impact as vice-captain, insisting he brought an advanced tactical mind to the host team.

‘I take pride in the work I do out there,’ added Woods. ‘This is no exeption. Whether cash is involved or not, you are always playing for pride.’

Woods also hinted that he could be tempted by taking the top job in the future.

‘Yeah, I would love to do it. I would be honoured to do it in the future, if asked.’

However the 14-time Major champion still harbours success on the greens as a player.

He plans to return to competitive golf in a fortnight at the Safeway Open, his first scheduled PGA Tour start since August 2015 at the Wyndham Championship.