Did Jim Furyk make the right choice as Ryder Cup captain? Our writers talk
Check in every week for the unfiltered views of our writers and editors as they analyze the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. Today, we’re releasing a bonus Tour Confidential to discuss Friday’s Ryder Cup news.
According to an Associated Press report by Doug Ferguson, Jim Furyk will be named US Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 event in Ireland. (The PGA of America has yet to confirm the news.) Furyk, who was the captain when the US lost 17.5-10.5 in Paris in 2018, will become the fourth US captain to earn a second title since 1979. Europe has won nine of the 12 Ryder Cups, while the Americans have never won Iskar 193.
Sean Zak, senior author: Furyk was a good pick, and anyone who’s upset about it should really look around and see how much context led to this pick. Tiger Woods took himself out of the running, forcing a late decision at the PGA of America for a second straight Cup. Stewart Cink has never been a leading man. The same goes for Brandt Snedeker. Steve Stricker doesn’t want to do it anymore. Furyk has always been very close to the pro game, playing on the Champions Tour and now broadcasting Tour events. He was an assistant in Keegan Bradley’s team, putting him through tough times. Had Bradley chosen himself as captain at Bethpage, Furyk would have played a major role. Let’s not forget that he captained the President’s Cup two years ago, on the road in Canada. He knows what he’s doing.
James Colgan, news and features editor: Is it possible? It’s hardly an encouraging option, especially not after the way the Americans (and in particular, Furyk’s captain choice) behaved in Paris. But Furyk is an old man who has done the job. It’s not a disastrous choice, but I’m not sure America’s chances in Ireland are improved today.
Dylan Dethier, senior author: When it became clear that the front-runner (Tiger Woods) was out and my preferred pick (Fred Couples, paired with the exact price) was not going to happen, this turned into a big bully for me. Not because I don’t care or don’t think it’s important — just because I’m not sure there was one definitive, irrefutable answer. The US Ryder Cup program does not have many recent heroes. But I will say this: Furyk showed great humility after their thrashing in France in 2018 and the players contested his Presidents Cup captaincy. I think you will do well.
But do you think there were better options?
Zak: The cupboard was empty! Extremely naked. I would have accepted other options, like Stew Cink, but it really shows how uncertain the candidates are. Not to mention the recent changes in leadership of the PGA of America. Everything feels in line with that organization, so having some stability in Furyk sounds like a great situation.
Colgan: I probably should have called Keegan Bradley again.
Dethier: I still hope that he will return with Keegan where he will find his form last year and play his way. this the group. Also, a couple of Fred paired with a data scientist would be an old school/new school pairing. But I’m not sure Freddie would have agreed to all the photoshoots.
But if the cupboard is empty, as mentioned above, shouldn’t there be a charge for that somewhere? Meanwhile Luke Donald is looking for his third win in a row.
Zak: Everyone is wrong. Players for playing poorly, captains for making poor decisions, the PGA for not establishing a better relationship with players, some players wanting more money — I could go on and on. Everything gives birth to a certain culture – or rather, the lack of a certain culture that Europe has.
Colgan: Apparently the PGA of America hasn’t done an effective job of building the infrastructure around the Cup (other than monetizing it – they’re REALLY good at that). Bradley was thrown to the wolves and forced to fight for the possibility of playing in this event. There are no traditions, in Sean’s point, and no real group identity. It shows!
Dethier: Of course there’s another universe where Phil Mickelson goes from being the winning captain at Bethpage Black and heading for back-to-back Cups at Adare Manor and, now, I just saw the next question, let’s continue this there.
The AP reported that Furyk was appointed as soon as Tiger Woods turned down the job following his March DUI arrest. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson, who was once thought to be a future Ryder Cup captain, has not been on the radar since leaving LIV Golf. How much, or how little, have these two affected the PGA of America’s long-running Ryder Cup program?
Zak: A lot? A lot? Sadly? Is there a bigger name I’m missing? It’s possible that two of America’s greatest golfers of the ’90s and 2000s will both be too busy to captain in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027 – possibly when they were most needed. I would look to blame others more if Tiger and Phil weren’t automatically included in the first Ryder Cup team formed ten years ago.
Colgan: Yes, here is the elephant in the room. The space is THIS big because those guys are missing.
Dethier: I went searching through the archives to try to figure out what consensus would have preceded everything and found this from Alan Shipnuck, writing for our mag: “Steve Stricker is the obvious choice for 2020, and the trophy will be in Wisconsin, at Whistling Straits … after that, it will be against Zach Johnson in ’22, Phil in ’24 and Tiger in ’26.” Covid first hit and the 2020 Ryder Cup became the 2021 Ryder Cup, but Shipnuck was still right about Stricker and Johnson. And then there was LIV, too [gestures] everything else. But initially, Phil and Tiger were going to follow – that’s what everyone thought would happen. So, yes. Their absence changed everything. In fairness, the European pipeline was laid out, too, and featured some combination of Stenson/Poulter/Westwood/McDowell before those four left for LIV. Luke Donald came in and became the greatest Ryder Cup captain in history. These things can cut both ways.
What do you think is the better option in general: a veteran captain, like Furyk, who can learn from mistakes or successes, or fresh blood with a rookie captain?
Zak: Ryder Cup veterans, President Cup newcomers.
Colgan: I like the animal captain approach, it’s the most secure part of Furyk’s decision.
Dethier: When you bring in a new blood captain you need to make sure there is a rock solid infrastructure around him – and I’m not sure Keegan Bradley is enough for that in 2025. Furyk will be a strong hand and his players should have enough of a chip on their shoulder that he won’t need a pep talk anyway. I think I’m talking to myself in this many choices as we go here. Furyk can use decades of heartbreak and near misses at Ryder Cups as motivation. You see what it looks like when things go well and what it looks like when they don’t. He could be the perfect stalwart in what will be a broken Ryder Cup spirit.
And your first question for Furyk at his introductory press conference would be?
Zak: It’s been eight years since Paris and two years since Montreal – do you feel like you know what’s best to win in Ireland or do you still need the next year to find that out?
Colgan: What’s the first thing you’ve changed about being captain in 2018?
Dethier: Did you expect this job?
