Jim Furyk’s always been ready for the next Ryder Cup challenge, even if he wasn’t sure it would come again

Jim Furyk was not expecting to get another chance to serve as U.S. Ryder Cup captain, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t ready to take the reins again when the PGA of America called on him to lead the American team next year at Adare Manor in Ireland.

The PGA announced on Friday that Furyk has accepted the assignment of leading the U.S. team for the 46th Ryder Cup. His selection comes in the wake of Tiger Woods withdrawing his name from consideration after he was involved in an auto accident March 27 near his home in Jupiter, Fla., and was charged with DUI. A few days later, Woods announced that he was stepping away from the game to focus on his health. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“I’ve been thinking about this for years, if that makes sense, and I’ve been working on it for months, since we left Bethpage—not necessarily knowing the captaincy would come up again,” Furyk told Golf Digest in a telephone interview. “It started with exit interviews at Bethpage and talking with [past] captains and assistants and players from that team, just talking about our future and how we can and want to improve. I’m honored to get chosen to lead our side again.”

Furyk, 55, was captain in 2018 in Paris when the Europeans rolled to a 17 ½ to 10 ½ victory, and he has been a vice captain five times, including last year under Keegan Bradley at Bethpage, where Europe orchestrated a stunning two-point decision under Luke Donald despite a furious American rally in singles.

A 17-time PGA Tour winner and past U.S. Open champion, Furyk also was the winning captain when the U.S. defeated the International team in the 2024 Presidents Cup in Montreal.

RELATED: Like it or not, here's why Jim Furyk was the best choice to lead 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup team

Donald returns for a third time, attempting to become the first European captain to win three straight when the Ryder Cup is contested Sept. 17-19, 2027. Furyk is charged with leading a U.S. team to victory abroad for the first time since 1993.

“I’m well aware of our record in Europe, and I’m sure I will be reminded of it quite often in the coming months,” said Furyk, who compiled a 10-20-4 record in nine Ryder Cups as a player. “Clearly, it’s a huge challenge, and we need to find a way to meet that challenge better than we have been. I’m looking forward to that journey to help figure it out.”