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Jim Furyk named 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup captain

By The Sports Xchange
Jim Furyk hits a drive on the third hold of his first round during the Friday round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 17, 2016. Furyk was just starting his first round due to the rain delays yesterday and will play his second 18 later today. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
1 of 3 | Jim Furyk hits a drive on the third hold of his first round during the Friday round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 17, 2016. Furyk was just starting his first round due to the rain delays yesterday and will play his second 18 later today. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

Jim Furyk, who played on nine consecutive American teams, was named the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup captain on Wednesday.

PGA of America president Paul Levy announced the selection of Furyk for the 42nd Ryder Cup, which will be played Sept. 28-30, 2018, at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France.

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Furyk was a vice captain under Davis Love III last fall when the United States reclaimed the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 in the biennial event by defeating Europe 17-11 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.

The 46-year-old Furyk is the 28th U.S. captain since the Ryder Cup began in 1927.

"For more than two decades, Jim Furyk has stood proud and tall on the American golf stage and we are thrilled to have him as our Ryder Cup captain," said Levy, who joined Furyk for a news conference at PGA of America headquarters at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. "His accomplishments as a player are well known, but his inherent competitive spirit and leadership traits are what made his candidacy so attractive. Jim offers the total package and is well suited for the task at hand."

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Furyk's nine consecutive Ryder Cups (1997, '99, 2002, '04, '06, '08, '10, '12, '14) is the second-most appearances in U.S. Ryder Cup history. Only Phil Mickelson, with 11, played in more among Americans. Furyk owns a 10-20-4 individual record and the U.S. went 2-7 with him on the team, winning in 1999 and 2008. A 17-time winner on the PGA Tour, Furyk also played in seven Presidents Cups, an event at which he served as a captain's assistant in 2015.

"I would like to thank Davis (Love III) and the PGA of America Ryder Cup Committee for their faith in me and my selection as United States Ryder Cup Captain," said Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion. "I've said many times that the Ryder Cup is part of my DNA, so this opportunity was a privilege and honor to accept. This is a special moment for my family."

Furyk's first act as Ryder Cup captain was to name Love as the first of his vice captains. Love served twice as U.S. captain (2012, '16) and played in six Ryder Cups.

"I am anxious to get started and recapture the momentum we enjoyed at Hazeltine, both in the team room and on the golf course," Furyk said. "It's been a long time since we've won in Europe and I am looking forward to the challenge."

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Thomas Bjorn, 45, of Denmark was named 2018 European Ryder Cup captain last month.

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