Hilton Head, SC …

It is still some 18 months or so to the 2018 Ryder Cup  but USA Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk revealed he is already laying awake in the goal of making it a successful defence for his USA team of the biennial competition.

Furyk is returning this week to the RBC Heritage Classic and an event he has captured twice in his career, first in 2010 and two years ago. and with his 2015 success the last of 17 Tour victories.

However he quizzed ahead of this weeks $US 6.3m event on the legendary Harbor Town course, if the events of later next year in Paris was affecting his approach to the tournaments the soon-to-be 47- year old contests.

Jim Furyk says he lays in bed thinking of the Ryder Cup

“It’s so early in the process right now to be looking at how other players are playing and I don’t really care how the guys are playing right now,” he said.

“I care how they’re playing a few months leading up to the event.

“Obviously there’s a point where things start to get significant and important, not much I can do on that. Guys have to quality on their own merit. As we get closer and next year, it will be really trying to identify those players.

Jim Furyk making a point ahead of this weeks RBC Heritage … www.golfbytourmiss.com

“I do have enough to work on right now trying to get ready and in my mind I’m always thinking, laying in bed thinking about that week, how I may handle certain situations and trying to play a lot of that through my mind, what the team may look like.

“Part of that is trying to provide the atmosphere for those guys to succeed.”

But then of more immediate importance to Furyk is a good showing this week having missed the cut a week earlier at The Masters

“My goal will be to try to pick and choose my spots wisely and be patient and not try to force things,” he said.

“And kind of crack the seal and get a good tournament under my belt and kind of jump start things. But you have to let that happen.”