U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk is challenging his players to prepare like never before in advance of the 2027 competition in Ireland.
The Americans have lost their last seven Ryder Cup competitions on foreign soil, including the 2018 event in France that Furyk also captained. He is back to helm the U.S. side for next year’s event at Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland.
“I’m going to ask this team to do more than any other United States team has in the past,” Furyk said during a joint press conference Tuesday at Adare Manor with Europe captain Luke Donald.
As part of the ramp-up, Furyk wants his players to scout out the course ahead of next September’s competition.
“I expect everyone to make their best effort to be here. I want them to see the golf course,” he said.
Adare Manor is a 7,509-yard, par-72 course designed by Tom Fazio.
Furyk made a pointed reference to an area where the Americans need to make drastic improvements: in foursomes (alternate-shot) play. U.S. teams are 8-26 in foursomes at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup combined dating to 2023. They’re 3-13 against Europe.
“I don’t think we are preparing for those matches in a proper way,” he said.
“It’s not an anomaly. There’s some issues,” Furyk added, though he did not elaborate. “I plan on making some changes. As captains, we need to do a better job.”
A better foursomes performance would help the Americans end Europe’s recent domination of the event. The Europeans have won back-to-back Ryder Cups and nine of 12 this century.
The last American win overseas came in 1993 at The Belfry in England.