Per the report, Jim Furyk was named Ryder Cup captain for a second time after the PGA of America reached out to him and met with him at Augusta, giving him the opportunity to try to address what he sees as systemic issues for Team USA.
The report says Furyk has been taking notes since the Americans’ most recent loss and that he previously served as United States captain in 2018 and as a vice captain for Keegan Bradley at Bethpage last year, both of which resulted in losses. The report adds that Furyk had hoped to be approached rather than push his name into consideration.
According to the report, Furyk wants a longer-term, more structured approach for the U.S. team, calling for greater continuity for players and future captains and arguing the Ryder Cup must be treated as a year-round, 12-month process. “We need to create more continuity for our players and for our future captains,” Furyk said, per the report, adding that the event should be made more of a priority each year.
The report says Furyk cited improvements in logistics, travel and scheduling as areas that need review ahead of next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor. He also pointed to the limited preparation time given to Bradley, noting Bradley had less than 18 months to prepare and had never served as a vice captain, a situation Furyk described as playing “a lot of catch-up.” The report notes Furyk also captained the 2024 Presidents Cup to a win.
Addressing on-course issues, the report says Furyk highlighted the U.S. struggles in foursomes, where Europeans have dominated, going 13-2 in the past two Cups. He told reporters that the team must improve its preparation for that format and said communication about how analytics are used has been a weak spot. The report quotes PGA of America CEO Terry Clark as saying the organization is focused on improving standards and is already working with Furyk on a more “structured and repeatable approach” emphasizing preparation, continuity and sustained success.
