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Jim Furyk knows full well that Team USA fell short at the 2025 Ryder Cup, and he has been open about what needs to change moving forward. Brought in as a vice-captain to support the relatively inexperienced Keegan Bradley, Furyk was part of a backroom team tasked with steadying the ship. Team Europe took control early, and while the Americans did put up a fight in the singles, it was never going to be enough. The damage had already been done. With the next Ryder Cup heading to Adare Manor in 2027, there is already talk within the US camp about how they need to get their approach right this time around. Furyk was brutally honest about the situation when he spoke on the latest episode of the Rex and Lav podcast. Jim Furyk’s honest take on Team USA at the Ryder Cup Despite a strong finish in the Sunday singles, the US still appear well behind Europe when it comes to building a cohesive team for the Ryder Cup. Furyk believes the Americans need to start by looking internally before making any wider changes. He said: “We definitely have to get better, without a doubt. I don’t follow a lot of social media or follow a lot of what is written, we have talked about it a lot in the past. I know it can be scathing and we are going to get criticised and we should. We were seven points down after four sessions, that is not acceptable. “We have to look in the mirror but I don’t think we have to tear it down. When you think back to 2014, you think about the task force and all of us getting in a room and having conversations, that felt like a bit of a start over moment. We had to start doing things in a different fashion. “Since then the home team has won every Ryder Cup until this one. I don’t think it’s time to tear it down, but it is a time to reflect and a time for all of us, including the PGA of America, to get together and figure out how we are going to do that. Making a plan and moving forward. But I think we keep building on what we have got. I know I will get criticised for saying that and there are people out there that won’t agree with it. “All the captains usually have a talk with the PGA of America, I have had mine, talked about ideas and stuff I’d like to see happen in the future and I think the right people will put those plans in motion. I spent a lot of time with Davis Love recently, we had an outing together in New Jersey. It was fun getting to talk to him. And I think in my mind when we had that task force and were going to change things, Davis was the captain. We were in a room and I was looking and identifying what skills were needed for the next captain and I was looking at the whiteboard going Davis Love! I was thinking he has to be the next captain. “I think we are all following that game plan. He handed stuff down to Steve Stricker and myself and Freddie and Jay Haas. We will keep the ball moving in the right direction and we are surely going to get better. “What we have to do, in my mind, to be successful is win all your home Ryder Cups, that’s for sure. But you have to go on the road and win. That is the next step and that will be the goal for Adare Manor.” Jim Furyk discusses the feasibility of a playing captain for Team USA One of the main talking points leading up to the Ryder Cup at Bethpage was whether Keegan Bradley would take on the role of playing captain. He ultimately chose to focus solely on his responsibilities as captain, deciding not to compete as a player. Furyk spoke openly about it, too, and he does not see it being something that could work out again. “It would be extremely difficult. I am not going to say never, like Rory maybe given that opportunity some day. Usually we pick a captain that is a little further on in years. Keegan was only 38 years old and is in the meat of his career,” he stated. “He still had his opportunities to make our Ryder Cup team, I think Ray Floyd did that. He was a pick after being a captain. But the duties that are required and expected, the amount of stress. When you are a captain you are overseeing a large group of folks. Not just players, it’s pairings and messaging. You are a CEO of a company with 75 people and the amount of work it takes to get that group all moving in the right direction and all pulling and working for the same goal takes a lot of energy. “Then to have to turn around and flip the switch and worry about yourself having to go play, practice and get ready on the largest stage in golf, I don’t know if there is enough time or energy to do both. I would say no. Not saying it’s impossible, not saying it can’t be done. Tiger did it in Melbourne. But it’s extremely difficult. “In that case I think Keegan was obviously in a very difficult position. We all want to play on Ryder Cup teams and compete but I think in his mind for the greater good, he wanted to be the best captain that he could be and his messaging during the week and the way he conducted and handled himself, I thought he did a good job.” The US will be looking for redemption when they travel across Europe in 2027. But after two straight losses against Europe and with this one taking place on home soil for them once again, Team USA know they will need their best performance yet if they want any chance at winning against this experienced European squad.
