Jim Furyk claims ‘underdogs’ tag as Luke Donald promises ’zero complacency’ at Adare Manor
Jim Furyk, Team USA Captain, poses for a photograph with Luke Donald, Team Europe Captain, and the Ryder Cup Trophy during the Ryder Cup 2027 Year to Go Press Conference at Adare Manor on October 06, 2026 in Limerick, Ireland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Jim Furyk and Luke Donald didn’t quite dance under the crystal chandeliers dotted around the sumptuous Adare Manor ballroom, but when the talking was done, the American captain came away with the precious underdog tag so coveted by European Ryder Cup captains.
The “Year to Go” celebrations are over in Co Limerick now and Furyk, who gets his second bite of the cherry as skipper following his 17½ to 10½ shellacking in Paris seven years ago, promised his team will come back better prepared than ever to correct the glaring weakness that has left the USA bereft of an away Ryder Cup win since 1993.
“It’s not an anomaly,” Furyk said when quizzed about the USA’s abysmal foursomes record in team matches, especially since 2023 — 3-13 against Europe in back-to-back Ryder Cup defeats and an 8-26 record if you include the last two Presidents Cups.
“There are some issues; we understand that. (It’s) not something I’m very happy with. I plan on making some changes.
“I would say, one, as captains, we need to do a better job, not only put the folks into good pairings in good positions, but I don't think we are preparing for those matches in a proper way.
“And I will promise you, we will be prepared. I'm going to ask this team to do more than any other United States team has in the past. We'll be prepared. We'll be ready to go in that format, and hopefully we can showcase our talent. We have too much depth to have that poor record in alternate-shot.”
Europe has relied on the underdog mentality to become a Ryder Cup force in recent decades, winning 11 and losing just four (away) matches since the last American triumph on European soil in 1993.
A general view as Jim Furyk, Team USA Captain, and Luke Donald, Team Europe Captain, speak during the Ryder Cup 2027 Year to Go Press Conference at Adare Manor on October 06, 2026 in Limerick, Ireland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
This time, it’s different.
“It’s us against the world at this point, or us against Europe,” Furyk insisted. “There's going to be 50,000 people making a lot of noise. The Ryder Cup is such a great atmosphere, such a great arena.
“But we know what we're up against. We also know that it's been 34 years since we won in Europe.
“Luke and Dodo [Molinari] have the opportunity to set the golf course up, trying to tip the scales to Europe. It's always been played as we come in that the Americans seem to be the favourites.
“This year, there's no chance that that could happen. We're the underdogs.”
Donald was a brilliant, winning captain in Rome and at Bethpage last year but while 2023 was all about redemption for that 10-point hammering at Whistling Straits and 2025 was about silencing the raucous New York crowd, Adare Manor will be a different challenge.
“This one, I think we’ve got to really avoid complacency,” Donald said. “Just because we've won the last two doesn't naturally give us the upper hand. So it's getting that message across to the players.
“I think the US going to be very prepared. They're very hungry to turn around what has been disappointing Ryder Cups for them.
“It's more about the messaging. I think the messaging just changes. You've got to try and find the right message, the right note to sort of get these guys fired up in the right way.”
Captain Brandt Snedeker said after last month’s win Presidents Cup win at Medinah that this American team is “going to be a problem” at Adare Manor.
“I kinda tend to agree,” Donald said. “Zero complacency about how strong the US are going to be. They always are; on paper they tend to be stronger than us through the world rankings.
“Obviously, we have a great record at home, but again, zero complacency.
“I've seen what Jim has been doing behind the scenes, changing the stats, changing the qualification system. He is very, very motivated to come here and put up a good fight.
“Certainly I'm just as motivated to sort of keep finding those edges for my team as well. But you know, I know that the US will be very strong.”
How Adare Manor will play remains to be seen, though Furyk suspects iron play and short game will be at a premium.
Just eight of his side made the reconnaissance trip to Paris eight years ago but next year he hopes to get 16 Americans to Adare after The Open next summer, not for an audition but for acclimatisation and a taste of what will be required.
Rory McIlroy will again be a leader for Europe and while Shane Lowry is not guaranteed his spot yet, Donald was thrilled to see him shake the proverbial “monkey” off his back with that 11-shot Amgen Irish Open win at Doonbeg.
“Yeah, he certainly had a few doubts,” Donald said of Lowry’s painful near misses earlier this year. “He knew he'd let some go, and probably held on to those a little bit too long, but this was important, obviously, to play well and just to gallop away from the field was so impressive.”
There was just one change in the lineup between Rome and New York but Donald is expecting change this time.
“I'd be a bit surprised if it was a very similar team,:” he said. “I think there'll be obviously a core group of players that I think will likely be there. But I expect some new rookies to try and make their mark.”
Getting them to gel is one thing, but playing the “green” card well will also be key in front of a mostly Irish crowd.
Donald spoke Italian at the Opening Ceremony in Rome, so what chance he dares with the “cúpla focal” on September 16 next year?
“It’d be rude not to embrace the culture a little bit, wouldn’t it?” Donald said with a grin. “But we’ll see. I haven’t made any firm decisions yet.”
