April 24 (Reuters) – Jim Furyk, a 17-times winner on the PGA Tour, was named on Friday as the U.S. team captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland after Tiger Woods declined the role following his arrest on a driving under the influence charge.
Furyk, who was the losing Ryder Cup captain at Paris in 2018, succeeds Keegan Bradley in the role after the latter found himself in the crosshairs last September at Long Island’s Bethpage Black after a series of questionable lineup decisions.
The 55-year-old Furyk joins Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Davis Love III as the only U.S. Ryder Cup captains to receive a second term in the era of European continental inclusion.
“The opportunity to captain the U.S. Ryder Cup Team for a second time is a tremendous honor. I am committed to putting our players in the best position to succeed as we work to reclaim the Cup on European soil,” said Furyk.
At the 2018 Ryder Cup, Furyk became the sixth consecutive American leader to preside over a losing team in Europe.
After the blowout seven-point loss, Furyk faced tough questions about what he could have done differently, including whether it was negligent that half his team arrived at quirky Le Golf National without having stepped foot on the course.
Furyk also served as the winning U.S. captain at the 2024 Presidents Cup in Montreal where his squad secured a 10th consecutive triumph over a line-up of international players from outside Europe.
Woods had been the favourite to assume the Ryder Cup captain’s position but the PGA of America announced in early April that he declined to take the role as he stepped away to seek treatment and focus on his health after his arrest on a driving under the influence charge stemming from a rollover crash in Florida.
The 15-times major champion, regarded as the greatest golfer of his generation, has been a long-time presence in team events, including serving as a player-captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup.
Luke Donald was named European captain for a third consecutive Ryder Cup in March as he aims to become the first captain to guide a team to three straight victories next year.
The 2027 Ryder Cup will be held September 17-19.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto and Tommy Lund in GdanskEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Comments