Jim Furyk hoping to end 25 years of Ryder Cup defeats in Europe
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 17/10/17 3:24pm
Jim Furyk has admitted Team USA will have "25 years of scars" to overcome as they look to win the Ryder Cup in Europe for the first time this century.
Furyk's side ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a handsome 17-11 win at Hazeltine last year, but they have not tasted success as the away team since Tom Watson led them to victory at The Belfry in 1993.
The American captain revealed he has been "blown away" by the French hospitality during the Year To Go celebrations alongside European counterpart Thomas Bjorn in Paris over the last two years, and he also believes Le Golf National will be the perfect venue for the contest.
But he is aware of the struggles of his team on the road, something he will look to put right when they defend the Ryder Cup this time next Autumn, and he expects Bjorn's team to take as much advantage as possible of the home support and their knowledge of the Open de France course.
"In a Ryder Cup-like setting, in sport in general, any home match is definitely an advantage just from a crowd perspective," said Furyk at Tuesday's press conference with Bjorn.
"My hat's off to the European crowd. They make a lot of noise, even in small numbers in the US, and it takes about 30,000 Americans to drown them out. We are definitely enamoured with their skill-set and the way they work together.
"I think The European Team also knows this golf course and seems to like this golf course a lot. Obviously doesn't have a team yet but I hear that a lot from the European players. Everyone has a lot of respect for the golf course.
"And we have 25 years of scars to overcome. That being said, I will have a lot of young talent on my team. I'm anxious to see how they handle that challenge, and surely, Europe has handled those away matches far better in the last 25 years than we have.
"So we might have to take a page from their book and try to figure it out, and again, I'd like to see how those young guys react and hopefully a little better than we have in the past."
Furyk also hinted that he will urge all prospective members of his team to familiarise themselves with the course, and to consider entering next year's Open de France.
"This could really be the most grand setting ever in Ryder Cup history," he added. "I plan on being here sometime in July. Some of the American players may be playing the Scottish Open or they may be playing the John Deere at home in Illinois.
"But depending on their schedule, I will put an invite out. I will try to schedule a time; that if the players can make the trip and would like to make the trip. And again, we seem to have a bunch of players that hang out together, I would love to see them make a trip here before or after The Open Championship and see the golf course.
"And by then, we'll have a good idea, maybe not of which eight players are going to qualify but who is in position and who has a great chance to qualify for the event. I'll extend that invite to maybe the top 15 or 20 players to see if they would like to come play.
"We have obligations and we have events that we may want to play, and so I would love to see some of them come. But it's not going to be a requirement. I don't think it's going to be a strong recommendation, but I think it's going to be an ask and an invite and I would hope to see some of those players here."
