As expected, Jim Furyk has been appointed 2018 USA Ryder Cup captain and one of his first tasks was to appoint victorious Hazeltine team leader, Davis Love 111 as a vice-captain.
Furyk becomes the 28th U.S. Captain since the Ryder Cup began in 1927.
The 46-year old made his Ryder Cup debut in 1999 at ‘The Battle of Brookline’ where he humbled Sergio Garcia 4 & 3 in the Sunday Singles and played his 34th match in losing to Garcia in 2014 at Gleneagles.
Overall, Furyk competed in nine consecutive Ryder Cups (1997, ’99, 2002, ‘04, ‘06, ‘08, ‘10, ‘12, ‘14), which is the second-most appearances in U.S. Ryder Cup history. Only Phil Mickelson, with 11, played in more among Americans.
“I would like to thank Davis (Love III) and the PGA of America Ryder Cup Committee for their faith in me and my selection as United States Ryder Cup Captain,” said Furyk.
Furyk’s first act as Ryder Cup Captain was to name Love as the first of his Vice Captains. Love served two U.S. captaincies (2012, ’16) and played in six Ryder Cups.
“ I’d say it was pretty priceless being a vice-captain under Davis.
“Steve Stricker put it best I think at Gleneagles, in that it was the first time he had ever approached a team from a captain side.
“I asked him that week in Scotland and wanted to talk about it. He said as a player, you look at things from a different perspective. As a captain, it has to be a little bit more all-inclusive. You have to figure out who is playing well and not well and make those tough decisions. He said it’s just a totally different outlook.
“So I was also very fortunate Davis brought me along for the ride a lot. I was at Hazeltine with him twice before the matches.
“I helped with he and Tom Lehman in the team room with the picks after the BMW, the first three. We were all with him the weekend before, trying to make the last choice, which was Ryan Moore.
“Those moments were priceless.
“You know, going forward, the idea, Europe’s been doing it for a long time. Going forward, our future captains will have served as a vice captain, and probably more than likely, more than once. I served as — did it once. I think Davis and Corey Pavin had done it once as a vice captain.
“But in the future, you’re going to see our next captains probably even more prepared, being vice captains multiple times. Those experiences, always make mental notes. Here is maybe where we could have been letter, and here’s little things I saw. And that’s the process. I’ll sit down with Davis, and with the guys, Tiger, Strick, some of the players in the room, and really try and get an idea, an overall picture.
“We’re definitely not reinventing the wheel. We have a good system in place but we’re always going to try to make improvements and try to get better.”
However, after a six- point success last September, Furyk’s biggest task will be a first USA victory on European soil since their two-point triumph in 1993 at The Belfry.
And Furyk’s hinted he could get his first look at the National Course on the outskirts of Versailles in June’s French Open.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve won in Europe and I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
“I’ve never played at the venue but then I’ve heard so much positive about it, for years; from the time that it was named as the ’18 site years and years ago.
“A lot of the European players talked very positively about the golf course. Said they felt it was one of the better golf courses they play on their tour.
“Also I can’t think of a better venue than the City of Paris, to start with, and it’s a place that Tabitha (wife) and I and the kids have been to a number of different times.
So I’m looking forward to getting back to Paris, especially the first time, as now named the captain to take the family there, but also to visit the golf course, to play it and to get an idea of what to expect. I’ve seen some of it online.
“I’ve got an idea about the holes a little bit, but until I get there and really get my hands on it, I’d like to do that this summer.”