Furyk, Donald Preview 2027 Ryder Cup at "Year to Go" Event

Jim Furyk and Luke Donald used this week's "Year to Go" press conference to stake out their positions ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup, with the American captain promising changes after back-to-back losses and the European captain declining to accept the role of favorite.

What is Furyk changing for the U.S. team?

Furyk said the Americans have had "issues" lately, "particularly in foursomes," and that he is altering the team's qualification system and how it tracks statistics ahead of the matches at Adare Manor. He framed the U.S. as the underdog heading into 2027, a label rarely attached to American Ryder Cup teams.

"We're the underdogs," Furyk said. "I know it's always been played, we come in, the Americans seem to be the favorites. This year, there's no chance that that could happen."

Why does Europe have the recent edge?

Europe has won the last two Ryder Cups, including a 2025 road victory at Bethpage that denied the U.S. a home win, and the Americans have not won a Ryder Cup on European soil since 1993. Donald, who is attempting to become the first captain to win three consecutive Ryder Cups, pushed back on any suggestion his team starts 2027 as the favorite despite that record.

Donald pointed to the World Rankings, which he said tend to favor the U.S. side regardless of recent results. He said he has watched Furyk retool the American team's processes and is working to match that effort for Europe.

Both camps are already fighting over who gets to play doubted a full year before a shot is struck at Adare Manor.

The 2027 Ryder Cup will be held at Adare Manor in Adare, Ireland. Furyk acknowledged the scale of that challenge directly, pointing to the crowd his team will face.

"It's going to be difficult," Furyk said. "Irish fans, Irish sports are amazing, but folks are going to come in droves from all over Europe to support their favorite countrymen, and I need 12 guys that love that atmosphere."