Captain Furyk
Will Furyk get the US to retain the Cup? That’s a question left for late next year, when golf’s premiere team-based tournament gets going in earnest. This early, though, it’s clear that he won’t be burdened by all the attendant problems that hitherto came
The PGA of America didn’t need to hold a press conference yesterday in order to announce the appointment of Jim Furyk as the United States captain for the 2018 Ryder Cup. Everybody and his mother already knew he would occupy the hot seat. They knew it when he was named part of the Task Force created after the red, white, and blue suffered a meltdown at Gleneagles two and a half years ago. And they knew it when he served as vice-captain at Hazeltine last September. He was groomed for it, and, given his extensive background, made for it.
In terms of qualifications, Furyk should be beyond criticism. He understands what it takes to win. He has on his mantel 17 PGA Tour trophies, the 18- and- a- half- pound silver jug from his triumphant campaign at the US Open in 2003 included. He boasts of being the only player in the history of the sport to card two scores under 60 in competition. Perhaps more importantly, he is also quite familiar with the pain of failure; in his Ryder Cup appearance streak dating back to 1997 and broken only last year ( when injury relegated him to the background), he has lost 20 matches, more than any other American in the biennial event’s annals. “You can learn from your mistakes,” he said during his formal acceptance of the responsibility, “and I’ve learned a lot.”
For all the utter absence of surprise in the PGA of America’s announcement, Furyk was still overcome with emotion in his presser. “It’s no secret it’s been my favorite event for my entire career,” he noted as he thanked members of the committee who voted for him unanimously in a meeting last month. And, moving forward, he explained his role in the context of a long-term vision of continuity and stability. It’s why he pointed to 2016 skipper Davis Love III as his first assistant, and why he will likely be seconding Steve Stricker at the Presidents Cup later this year. The latter, not coincidentally, figures to be in line for 2020.
Will Furyk get the US to retain the Cup? That’s a question left for late next year, when golf’s premiere team-based tournament gets going in earnest. This early, though, it’s clear that he won’t be burdened by all the attendant problems that hitherto came with one-and-done stints. “I don’t think you’re going to see any major changes,” he said. “We have a good formula in place. [I’m] just going to [try] to make improvements on… minor little details along the way.”