For a long time, it seemed like 2027 would be the year 15-time major champion Tiger Woods finally captained the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Instead, a one-time major winner is expected to play the American captain role for the second time.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Jim Furyk will be named 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain for next year’s event in Ireland.
When the 2027 Ryder Cup begins at Adare Manor next September, the European team will have a repeat captain in the form of Luke Donald, who has led his team to back-to-back victories.
The American team will have a repeat captain as well, though one with a less gleaming Ryder Cup résumé.
The AP reported Friday morning that “three people aware of the selection process said the Ryder Cup committee chose Furyk once Tiger Woods removed himself from consideration after his March 27 arrest on suspicion of DUI.”
The PGA of America did not immediately respond to an inquiry on the report.
The U.S. team has suffered two consecutive defeats in the biennial event. In 2023, the Americans suffered a lopsided defeat in Rome, 16.5–11.5, with Zach Johnson as captain.
For last year’s Ryder Cup, Keegan Bradley was named U.S. Ryder Cup captain in a surprising and controversial move by the PGA of America, who operate the U.S. team. The bold choice did not work out.
The U.S. team was heavily beaten over the first two days at Bethpage Black, while American fans embarrassed themselves hurling insults at the European players and their families. A spirited comeback on Sunday left the final score Europe 15, U.S. 13.
Jim Furyk’s experience as U.S. Ryder Cup captain
Furyk has a strong playing résumé. In a lengthy PGA Tour career, he captured 17 Tour wins, including a victory at the 2003 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields.
He also played on nine different U.S. Ryder Cup teams. More importantly, he has the one type of experience that counts most: Furyk served as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain at the 2018 event in France.
Unfortunately, that first experience may not provide American golf fans with much hope. With Furyk as captain, the U.S. team was defeated by Europe 17.5–10.5 at Le Golf National, and Furyk’s captain’s picks went 2–10–0.
Furyk also served as one of Keegan Bradley’s vice-captains last year in the Americans’ loss at Bethpage Black and in 2023 for the U.S. defeat in Rome. He was, however, also a vice-captain for the last U.S. Ryder Cup victory in 2021.
One positive to Jim Furyk’s Ryder Cup captaincy
Though Furyk’s first stint as Ryder Cup captain in 2018 did not end well, there is one area of recent experience that supports the argument for his captaincy.
In 2024, Furyk played the role of U.S. captain again, but not at the Ryder Cup. Furyk instead captained the U.S. Presidents Cup team — with a positive result.
The U.S. side comfortably beat the International team 18.5–11.5. It also occurred on foreign soil at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada. The 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup team will similarly play away in Ireland.
Of course, the two team events are not the same. While Europe has dominated the Ryder Cup in recent decades, the U.S. team has a 13-1-1 record in the Presidents Cup.
This article originated on Golf.com
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