Jim Furyk is returning as US Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland, the PGA of America announced Friday, as the Americans try to get back on track against a European team that has dominated the last three decades.
Furyk is the fourth US captain to get a second chance dating to 1979, considered the modern era of the Ryder Cup when continental Europe became part of it.
The Associated Press reported that the Ryder Cup committee chose Furyk once Tiger Woods removed himself from competition after his 27 March arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
“Jim Furyk has been an influential figure in the United States team room for nearly three decades,” Nathan Charnes, vice-president of PGA of America, said in a statement. “He is a trusted, widely-respected leader and possesses a wealth of Ryder Cup experience that can only serve to strengthen our team.”
Furyk was the 2018 captain in Paris, a 17½-10½ win by Europe. That week was marked by the four US captain’s picks going 2-10-0 at Le Golf National and Patrick Reed blaming Jordan Spieth for them not playing together and Furyk for benching him twice.
Furyk led the Americans to victory as Presidents Cup captain in 2024, and he was said to be a reliable voice as an assistant to US captain Keegan Bradley in the last Ryder Cup.
“The opportunity to captain the U.S. Ryder Cup Team for a second time is a tremendous honor,” Furyk said in a statement. “I am committed to putting our players in the best position to succeed as we work to reclaim the Cup on European soil.”
Europe built a record seven-point lead after two days last year at Bethpage Black and held on for their second straight victory under captain Luke Donald, who returns for a third stint in Ireland.
Bradley was a surprise choice for the 2025 matches after the PGA of America waited until the summer of 2024 to see if Woods wanted the job.
This time around, the PGA of America set a soft deadline for the end of March for Woods to decide, and its backup plan was to have a list of candidates for the Ryder Cup committee to consider if Woods chose not to be captain.
It was not known which way Woods was leaning when his SUV clipped the back of a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck on a residential road in Florida, turning his SUV on its side. Woods was arrested and briefly jailed after Florida authorities determined he was impaired.
Four days later, Woods said he was stepping away indefinitely “to seek treatment and focus on my health”, and he told the PGA of America he would not be captain.
Davis Love III (2012 and 2016), Tom Watson (1993 and 2014) and Jack Nicklaus (1983 and 1987) are the other US captains to have the job twice since 1979.
Love and Nicklaus had Ryder Cup matches at home both times. Furyk faces the daunting task of trying to win a Ryder Cup on the road, which the Americans have not done since 1993.
The Americans were coming off a resounding victory at Hazeltine in 2016 when the event went over to Le Golf National, set up with narrow fairways and thick rough. After getting out to a 3-1 lead, the Americans never won another session.
Woods, coming off his victory the week before at the Tour Championship, went 0-4. Phil Mickelson went 0-2 and Bryson DeChambeau was 0-3. All were captain’s picks. DeChambeau had won two FedEx Cup playoff events leading into the matches.
Europe have won 11 of the last 15 matches dating to Oak Hill in 1995. Donald will try to become the first captain to win three straight times in September 2027 at Adare Manor.
