Jim Furyk hints at Tiger Woods Ryder Cup role and hits back at tension claims in tearful US camp

Tiger Woods could still link up with the US Ryder Cup despite his troubles away from the course.

The golf great was considered favorite to lead his country in Ireland next year after disastrous back-to-back defeats.

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His car accident and arrest in March put an end to that, however, and Woods revealed he would be ‘stepping away’ from the game.

The PGA of America turned to Jim Furyk as captain instead and the 56-year-old discussed his appointment ahead of the PGA Championship.

“We haven’t spoken yet,” he told reporters of Woods. “I think, out of kind of courtesy and for him, his family, and I know maybe a road to health, I haven’t reached out, but I will. Definitely.”

It had been assumed that Woods would give the U.S. camp for Adare Manor a wide berth, but Furyk — in his second stint as captain — seems keen for him to take on a role.

“We’ll see where that role may fall,” Furyk added. “In the past, I think he’s kind of taken a backseat and kind of maybe served as an advice for Keegan [Bradley] and such.

“I will say I enjoyed serving — I use that word serving — as a vice captain with him a number of times. I think he brought a lot to the team room, and a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience.”

Team Europe has proved dominant in recent editions despite a fightback from the hosts at Bethpage Black.

There have been accusations of a lack of unity and commitment in the Team USA camp, especially after the issue of payment — or lack thereof — was raised by Stars and Stripes golfers.

Furyk, who stressed the word served in his earlier comments, is eager to dispatch those notions.

“To say that our team doesn’t bond or that we don’t get along or it’s just not the same, I’m just not buying in,” he insisted.

AFP

AFP

“I think it’s a low-hanging fruit,” said the four-time vice captain. “It’s an easy way to describe why a talented team didn’t get the W. I’ve said it, and I’m going to continue to say it, I don’t buy it.

“I’ve been in that team room. I’ve seen the joy. I saw ’21, the cigars, the hugs, the beers, you name it.

“I’ve also seen the tears, and I’ve seen guys and what it really means to them to be a Ryder Cup player.

“I know how special it was for me to play in the Ryder Cup. It’s my favourite event. So I don’t buy that, but I think it’s an easy way to figure out why we haven’t been successful, but it’s not the right way.”

Jim Furyk plans to copy European Ryder Cup approach

There is no doubt that Europe has found a winning formula, with Luke Donald stepping in for a third stint as captain.

There is plenty of talent on the U.S. roster, but results are lacking.

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Scottie Scheffler broke down in tears in Rome after a record 9&7 foursomes loss with Brooks Koepka

The world No. 1 obviously cares, as do many — if not all — of his teammates, and Furyk thinks that the Americans need to think long-term to get the best out of their stars.

“We need to start making the Ryder Cup more of a priority each and every year,” he added. “The Ryder Cup is over. We decompress. We let it go for six months.

“We brought Keegan in even later than this last year. He had less than 18 months to prepare. And that’s a guy who never even served as vice-captain. So he played a lot of catch-up, if that makes sense.

“The idea of more continuity, more continuity for future captains, more continuity for the players year in and year out, and that includes Presidents Cup is in my mind as well.

“We’ve been carrying that knowledge along under some great captains, under the Davis Loves and the Freddie Couples and the Steve Strickers, and then myself kind of working with those guys.

“We’ve been kind of passing that information along, but I just really feel like it could be in a more organised manner.”

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