Jim Furyk has never been the sort to court controversy. In 32 years as a professional, Furyk has conducted himself in a manner befitting, both on and off the course, so it comes as a major surprise that he turned the air blue when talking to Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.
The U.S. reporter had gotten wind that Furyk was hosting the Presidents Cup team, of which he’s captain, for a barbecue last week and shot Furyk a text inquiring what was on the menu. According to Schupak, 20 minutes later Furyk and he were sat on a bench next to the putting green at Silverado Resort where the Procure Championship was being played and were conversing about the upcoming match between the United States and the Internationals at Royal Montreal in Canada.
It was then that Schupak trod on Furyks toe, so to speak, by suggesting that an International side victory was in the best interests of the competition.
“Don’t hate me for this, but I kind of hope your team loses,” Schupak said, and the fiery competitor in Furyk was none too pleased.
“Really? You’re American. You’ve got to understand, I do actually take offence at that. I don’t hate you, but it’s a pretty sh**ty thing to say.”
After a slightly taken aback Schupak went on to explain that, as a reporter, he’s obligated to remain impartial, but that the competition needed an International victory to re-energise it as the Americans have a 14-1-1 record and are gunning for 10-in-a-row.
Furyk went on to explain that he’d been equally offended when a PGA Tour official had suggested something similar in 2017 when he was serving as vice-captain to Steve Stricker and had laid down the law to the official in question, explaining that he’d seen grown men cry in the locker room after underperforming in team competition and, on the flip side, knew how much it meant to them when they played well.
“So, it’s not like I’m killing you right now, but f**k you,” he said. “Go f**k yourself. You can quote me on that one.”
Furyk, of course, was on the wrong end as a captain when he led the U.S. Ryder Cup team at Le Golf National in Paris in 2018, and it’s blatantly clear that he has some unfinished business with team competition. And if the U.S. players’ mentalities are any reflection of Furyk’s, they’re not going to be satisfied with stopping at 10-in-a-row.
Leave a comment