Jim Furyk is returning as U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland, a second chance for the veteran American after the Ryder Cup committee turned to him when Tiger Woods removed himself from consideration. Woods stepped aside after his March 27 arrest on suspicion of DUI.
Furyk, 54, led the U.S. team in 2018 in Paris, where Europe won and his four captain’s picks finished 2-10-0 at Le Golf National. His return puts him in a short class: he would be only the fourth U.S. captain to get a second chance dating to 1979, the modern era of the competition when continental Europe became part of it.
The Americans are trying to get back on track against a European side that has controlled much of the rivalry for the past three decades. Last year at Bethpage Black, Europe built a record seven-point lead after two days and held on for its second straight victory under captain Luke Donald. Donald returns for a third stint in Ireland, setting up another match that will test whether the U.S. can finally close the gap.
For Furyk, the assignment is as much about repair as it is about redemption. His 2018 team left Paris on the wrong end of the score, and the numbers from that week have lingered ever since. Ireland now gives him another stage, and the U.S. another chance to prove it can match Europe when the pressure starts on the first tee.