Opinion & Analysis
What do you think about Jim Furyk being elected 2018 Ryder Cup captain?
Jim Furyk (a.k.a. Mr. 58) has been officially elected as Team USA’s captain for the 2018 Ryder Cup, which will be played at Le Golf National in France. Furyk was one of the vice captains for the winning 2016 Ryder Cup under Captain Davis Love III.
The 46-year-old — who is one of the most decorated golfers of all-time to win only one major championship (2003 U.S. Open) — has amassed an individual 10-20-4 individual Ryder Cup record (1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014) as a player.
Team USA is undefeated since developing its Task Force — which is led by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson — in 2014 following its infamous loss to Europe where Mickelson had outspoken words against Captain Tom Watson. Will Furyk’s election help continue the success of the task force? Take the poll below to share your thoughts.
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This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
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Frank
Jan 15, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Jim Furyk will be a fine captain. We all know Phil will be pulling the strings anyway.
Markallister
Jan 13, 2017 at 5:38 am
more like choke furyk if you ask me.
BooBunkie
Jan 13, 2017 at 3:22 am
Red, I don’t care if he shot 58 at the local muni track that you can’t break 90 on!! A 58 is a 58 is a fifty-eight, period!
MuskieCy
Jan 13, 2017 at 12:47 am
Good old read a putt for 4 minutes only to miss ANOTHER one,….inspiring.
Honestly, a captain should mean nothing to the competitors. Make sure your team knows where to be when is the most important thing a Cup captain does, outside of picking the team gear. Ohhhh, such pressure.
Over the next 12 weeks I will sign off on 600 or so tax returns. Offer me a trade for swatch options and menu choices,…please.
farmer
Jan 12, 2017 at 7:06 pm
The best part of picking DL3 and Furyk is that they are active on the big tour. They know the players, knows who would pair well, who gets along, who not to pair (Tiger-Phil). JF is a smart guy, he will do exactly as good as the players play.
BooBunkie
Jan 12, 2017 at 4:46 pm
Mr. 60?! Of course you meant 58.
Red
Jan 12, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Nope I meant 60! He played a par 70 course.
http://www.pgatour.com/tourreport/2013/01/31/rounds-of-60-shot-on-pga-tour.html
Red
Jan 12, 2017 at 9:40 pm
He shot a 58 on a par 70! Plenty of people have shot 60s and 59s on par 72 courses! Why does he get all the praise. Mr 60
The dude
Jan 13, 2017 at 9:51 am
….idiot
Buck
Jan 13, 2017 at 9:25 pm
You can spin it any way you want, fact is it only took him 58 shots to get around the loop.
Red
Jan 12, 2017 at 4:02 pm
Good ole Mr 60
Steve
Jan 12, 2017 at 3:25 pm
Great choice! Who else was going to show the youngsters how to put together a 9-17-4 career record at the Ryder Cup?
FactChecker3000
Jan 12, 2017 at 3:31 pm
I think you forgot his 2014 campaign that boosted his record to 10-20-4. Any time you can lock down a captain with a 29% win rate, you gotta make that move 100 times out of 100.
Scott
Jan 13, 2017 at 11:57 am
+1
Looper
Jan 12, 2017 at 2:49 pm
So many others are being passed up, sounds very clicky.
gunmetal
Jan 12, 2017 at 2:13 pm
This is great news. Now we don’t have to worry about someone picking him as a captains pick!
I do love Jim and think he’ll be a tremendous Captain. He just struggled in Ryder Cups.
Tim
Jan 12, 2017 at 1:54 pm
Good for Jim, should be good…..Did anyone notice Costco pulling Kirkland balls off their site? Wonder if presure from the big OEMS have anything to do with that?
Double Mocha Man
Jan 12, 2017 at 1:18 pm
As long as he doesn’t require all players to swing like him… other than Ryan Moore.
Mark
Jan 12, 2017 at 12:54 pm
A great choice for Europe. Merci Beaucoup.
Jack
Jan 12, 2017 at 1:54 pm
De rien.
Devilsadvocate
Jan 12, 2017 at 11:58 am
I feel like you could have selected a better picture for the article… not that that one is horrible but it kind of insinuates that YOU don’t believe he was the best choice… how about one of him winning the FedEx cup in the rain with his hat flipped around backwards??…. c’mon now guys
Branson Reynolds
Jan 12, 2017 at 11:16 am
It won’t matter who the Captain is, we’re going to win. The Cup is in France, they’ll surrender right after alternating shot.
M-Dizzle
Jan 12, 2017 at 10:24 am
We need to figure out how to get as many American Ryder Cup fans as we can to Europe for the next one. Take away the home team’s advantage, and I’ll bet we’ll win #2
Tazz2293
Jan 11, 2017 at 9:16 pm
“Team USA is undefeated since developing its Task Force”
What? They only held 1 Ryder Cup since the task force was started.
That statement is Weak Sauce!
Ditto
Jan 12, 2017 at 12:53 pm
+1 I thought the same thing. 1-0 baby! In yo face EU!
Johnny
Jan 12, 2017 at 2:06 pm
But on the other hand, Team USA has only won once since developing its Task Force!
Mark
Jan 12, 2017 at 3:03 pm
Very good. Or how about: “The US has never won in Europe since the creation of the Task Force”
Travis
Jan 11, 2017 at 9:01 pm
What about Fred Couples?!
cgasucks
Jan 12, 2017 at 10:47 am
What about David Toms?
Jugger Nut
Jan 12, 2017 at 1:33 pm
Agree about Freddy and Toms. At least we won’t have to watch Furyk go through that pathetic putting routine.
Jack
Jan 12, 2017 at 1:50 pm
The worst of all scenarios would be if he somehow qualified for the team and served as a playing captain.
Merle33
Jan 12, 2017 at 4:18 pm
Couldn’t agree more with you Jack. Mr. 58 definitely still has the game to make the Ryder Cup Team on merit alone. I think he’ll be a great leader as well with being still out on tour with the players and knowing their games. However, with all that goes into being the captain, adding the many tasks, meetings, and responsibilities that we all don’t even know about, I don’t see how a playing captain would be productive if the situation was presented. Having to consider all players and upcoming matches while managing your own game and emotions just seems like too much for anyone to be able to handle well.