The 2025 Ryder Cup is rapidly approaching, with captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald needing to make every day count.
New York’s Bethpage Black will host the 45th Ryder Cup in late September, with Bradley captaining the US for the first time as Donald retains his European role.
Rory McIlroy thinks the US has a ‘very strong’ Ryder Cup team, although it is Europe who are the defending champions.
Donald guided his players to a stunning 16½-11½ victory in Rome in 2023, with Zach Johnson having led America at the tournament.
Bradley is now the man in charge, and he has been busy with his vice captain picks as the competition approaches.
America makes second big Ryder Cup mistake as Jim Furyk appointed vice captain
And after selecting Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker and Kevin Kisner, Jim Furyk has now been appointed as Bradley’s fourth vice captain for the next Ryder Cup.
And after making the huge mistake of deciding to pay its players for appearing at Bethpage Black, continuing the trend of including the old guard behind the scenes is another such error.
First and foremost, there could have been a switch up from the seemingly constant recycling of captains and vice captains, with familiar faces always returning.
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But there was a welcome change with Bradley’s appointment, which should be praised given the 38-year-old is not only a new face but also set to be the youngest captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
The new leader is also the most competitive, with three PGA Tour wins in the last two seasons when his appointment was confirmed.
Age and recent success could, therefore, have been among the issues considered for this latest appointment, rather than turning to 54-year-old Furyk.
Moreover, while the competition is by no means easy to win, especially away from home, Furyk was in the hot seat for America’s unsuccessful 2018 Ryder Cup.
The visiting captain suffered a disappointing blow at France’s Le Golf National, where the hosts won 17½-10½.
He did, however, serve as vice captain in 2016 and 2021 US victories, but his appointment does seem like an easy way out all things considered.
Many golf fans unhappy after Keegan Bradley appoints ‘exceptional’ Jim Furyk
Keegan Bradley is hugely excited to team up with Furyk in New York, with the former having won the 2024 Presidents Cup under the latter.
“Having Jim as a member of our leadership team is a huge advantage for us moving forward,” said Bradley, as quoted by the Ryder Cup website.
“I had the privilege of playing for him in last year’s President’s Cup, and his exceptional leadership, unwavering demeanour and wealth of experience made a huge impression on all of us.
“He knows what it takes to succeed in Ryder Cups, and I cannot wait to work alongside him as we prepare for Bethpage Black.”
But that is not a feeling shared by many golf fans, with one writing on X: “I like Jim, and he’s a good guy, but I thought they wanted to go ‘younger’. Does that mean Fred Couples is next?”
A second disgruntled fan commented: “I love Jim but we need to exile the old guard,” with a third saying: “They’ll lose now.”
Fortunately, Bradley can still appease some angry fans given that additional vice captains are set to be announced at a later date.
The concept of paying players cannot be pinned on the captain, but it is an issue that is simply very unnecessary at an event as prestigious as the Ryder Cup.
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