Jim Furyk is named next Ryder Cup captain for USA
Jim Furyk is the new U.S. captain for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Will he be the first playing captain in 55 years?
Furyk, who will be 48 when the biennial matches are contested at Le Golf National in Paris in September 2018, was named to the post Wednesday at the headquarters of the PGA of America in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He’s played in the Ryder Cup nine times, compiling a 10-20-4 record, and was an assistant last year when the U.S. defeated Europe for the first time since 2008.
“This is such an honor,” Furyk said. “This has been my favorite event in my career. I get chills thinking of all the events that I’ve participated in.”
A committee choosing Furyk, a quiet, respected veteran among his peers, included Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III, who led the Americans to a 17-11 victory at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota last October. In his first act as captain, Furyk named Love an assistant captain for the upcoming matches.
“Davis is going to be a very tough act to follow,” Furyk said. “He put a system in place and the players followed it. To have him by my side, with his experience, will be priceless for me.”
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Love considered using one of his captain’s picks on Furyk, the winner of 17 PGA Tour titles, including the 2003 U.S. Open.
Furyk, limited to making 16 starts last year as he recovered from wrist surgery, finished runner-up in the U.S. Open and tied for fifth in the Travelers Championship in August when he became the only player in Tour history to shoot 58. Furyk, whose last win came in the 2015 RBC Heritage, has two starts this wraparound season, with a tie for sixth at the RSM Classic his best finish.
Furyk, ranked No. 37 in the official world rankings, would be the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. Furyk wouldn’t say no to being a playing captain, but for now his focus is as captain.
“My main goal is to being the best possible captain I can be,” he said.
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn was selected as European captain last month.
The U.S. has not won on foreign soil since 1993 at The Belfry in England.
“There’s definitely a home-field advantage,” Furyk said when asked how tough it will be to win in France. “Their leadership will be strong. The team will be strong; it always is. But those fans bring an atmosphere that is electric. Their side is loud and they are cheering for their team.
“Bring all three of those things together, and we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
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