The American captain has made his first move in the battle for the 2027 Ryder Cup, and he is claiming the underdog role before a ball has been struck. Jim Furyk said the U.S. team has had “issues” lately, particularly in foursomes, and that changes are coming. He promised that this American side will be “prepared” when it arrives at Adare Manor in 2027.
Furyk made his case this week at the “Year to Go” Ryder Cup press conference.
“We’re the underdogs. I know it’s always been played, we come in, the Americans seem to be the favorites,” Furyk said. “This year, there’s no chance that that could happen. We’re the underdogs. We understand that. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. And you know, I’m excited about that process. I’m a process guy and kind of get ducks in a row and put these guys in a good position and let our guys go out and show their talent.”
An old motivational trick
Convincing yourself and your team that you are the doubted or the disrespected is an old-school motivational tactic, and it still thrives in team sports around the world. Kirby Smart has made a habit of saying that “everyone” has counted his Georgia football team out, even when it sits atop the polls and the national title odds. Dabo Swinney often refers to his team as “little ole Clemson,” a nod to the days when the Tigers were seen as a tier below the sport’s elite. Former cornerback Richard Sherman routinely convinced himself that an opponent disrespected him, just to get fired up before kickoff. See Baker Mayfield in 2019 for one example.
The Ryder Cup captaincy has increasingly become about building team chemistry, choosing the right pairings and pushing the right buttons to get the most out of a group of world-class golfers. Furyk looked at an American team that has been dominated in the last two Cups, including a home loss at Bethpage, and has not won in Europe since 1993. He staked his claim to the underdog role. At this point, any lever a U.S. captain can pull that might work is worth a shot.
Donald refuses to cede the ground
Luke Donald was not going to give up the underdog ground willingly. The Europeans have thrived in that role since the U.S. routed them at Whistling Straits in 2021.
Donald responded when asked about Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker saying the U.S. team will “be a problem” at Adare Manor.
“I tend to agree,” Donald said. “I have zero complacency about how strong the U.S. 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. You know, 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 U.S. will be very strong.”
Donald is aiming to become the first captain to win three straight Ryder Cups. He has built a winning culture that has bonded a group of world-class players who are bred to play for themselves 103 out of every 104 weeks. He has done this by focusing on small details, crafting a good experience for his players, and leaning into the history of the Ryder Cup and what it means to represent the European flag.
“We’re caretakers of this European jersey right now,” Rory McIlroy said after Europe’s win in 2023. “And we’re hopefully going to pass it on in the future in a better spot than where we found it.”
“It’s the ability to walk through those gates and those doors and forget about who you are outside of this week,” Jon Rahm said. “What you have done or what you may do afterwards, really truly doesn’t matter.”
When players believe they are playing for something bigger than themselves and have been counted out, a galvanizing force often takes hold and lifts everyone’s level. That has been the case for a European side that buys into everything Donald lays out.
Mentality over proclamation
As Furyk tried to take the underdog ground, Donald pushed back. He argued that being the underdog is more than a proclamation. It is an ethos.
“For us, underdog is a mentality,” Donald said. “We always want to prove something to ourselves, to the rest of the world. Yeah, we understand that being at home is an advantage but we also know that the U.S. are very strong.”
This battle will rage for the next year. The Americans will point to Bethpage and the dominance of the Europeans on home soil. The Europeans will counter by citing the official world rankings. Who wins the four majors in 2027 will further shape the fight over the underdog label. The captains will try to harness that narrative for their own sides. For Donald, it will be more of the same, since he has a proven method for getting the best out of his team. For Furyk, convincing a talent-laden American roster that it is the doubted one could go a long way toward pulling off something few think is possible.
“It’s going to be difficult,” Furyk said of winning in Ireland. “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 — I’ve been saying it all week, I need 12 guys that love that atmosphere and love walking into that type of arena because it takes a certain mentality, and those are the guys I’ll be looking for.”
The path to a victory at Adare Manor has already started. To the underdogs go the spoils.
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