Having spent a few days in Ireland with his Ryder Cup counterpart Luke Donald celebrating the one-year-out countdown to the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, U.S. captain Jim Furyk needs no reminding of the task facing him and his team next September.
The last time the Americans won the Ryder Cup on foreign soil – 1993 at The Belfry in England – is a long time ago.
“It’s us against the world, or us against Europe,” Furyk said at a Tuesday press conference with Donald.
“We know what we’re up against. We also know it [will have been] 34 years since we won in Europe. I mean, there’s no secret. I’m going to hear it over and over again so I’m going to embrace it.
“We’re the underdogs. … We come in and the Americans seem to be the favorites. [Next] year, there’s no chance that could happen.”
This is Furyk’s second turn as Ryder Cup captain and few others are as experienced in the event as he is. It will be the 14th consecutive Ryder Cup that Furyk has been part of as either a player, a vice captain or a captain.
Success has been hard to come by for the Americans. Europe has won nine of the last 12 Ryder Cups and its success at both Marco Simone in Rome in 2023 and Bethpage Black last fall was enough to convince Donald to come back for a third captaincy.
Furyk, on the other hand, captained the Americans in a seven-point loss in Paris in 2018. Having been a part of what hasn’t succeeded the past two Ryder Cups, Furyk wasted little time putting his own twist on what happens next.
“Even the best players in the world are trying to stay on top of their game, they’re trying to find a way to get better and evolve.” – Jim Furyk
The most notable change Furyk has made is restructuring the qualifying points system, limiting it to tournament play in 2027, effectively getting a fresher read on players. Six players will qualify off the points list and Furyk will make six captain’s picks.
Furyk has also changed the analytics structure within the American team, choosing Justin Ray and Hunter Stewart to crunch the numbers, stepping away from Scouts Consulting which had worked with the U.S. side since 2016.
“I think the word Luke used that we use a lot in our organization is evolve,” Furyk said. “Even the best players in the world are trying to stay on top of their game, they’re trying to find a way to get better and evolve.
“You know we’re not real happy with the last two results. So, yes, change will be made. We’re going to evolve. We’re going to get better. … A new points system for us moving forward, a new analytics team. But a number of different changes coming and stuff that we’re very excited about.”
Among the most immediate challenges is reversing the Americans’ dreadful performance in foursomes play, not just in the Ryder Cup but in the Presidents Cup as well.
In the past two Ryder Cups, the U.S. had a 3-13 record in foursomes and they are 8-26 in the format when including the two previous Presidents Cups.
“I know those numbers very well,” Furyk said. “I’ve lived them the last four [cups].
“What’s interesting is it’s kind of a recent thing for the United States. When I started playing in the Ryder Cup, we felt and mathematically had at times an advantage in foursomes. At the time, we were really struggling in the four-ball.
“But it’s not an anomaly. There’s some issues. We understand that. It’s not something I’m very happy with. I plan on making some changes.”
“We need to move forward and need to practice [foursomes] a lot more. I look forward to bringing some folks here to Adare Manor next summer and getting the chance to see the golf course and definitely working on that format is at the forefront for me.” – Jim Furyk
Furyk stopped short of citing the specific changes while being reminded that Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player, has a combined 1-8-0 record in foursomes play. He indicated he will consider multiple partners for Scheffler.
“We have to have options,” Furyk said. “We need to move forward and we need to practice it a lot more. I look forward to bringing some folks here to Adare Manor next summer and getting the chance to see the golf course and definitely working on that format is at the forefront for me.”
Furyk said he has worked closely with his vice captains Justin Leonard and Stewart Cink as well as his wife, Tabitha, in preparing what happens next September. From potential pairings to studying the parkland golf course to setting up the team room, Furyk is in full preparation mode at the moment.
He said he’s spent nearly two weeks in Ireland since being named the captain, becoming a fan of hurling in the process, and he is intent on being fully prepared knowing the atmosphere that will await his team.
“It’s going to be difficult,” Furyk said. “The Irish fans are amazing but folks are going to come in droves from all over Europe to support their favorite countrymen.
“I need 12 guys that love that atmosphere, that love walking into that type of arena because it takes a certain mentality and those are the guys I’ll be looking for.”