Jim Furyk hits back in furious Presidents Cup rant

A fiery Jim Furyk has made no secret of his disdain for Americans who would prefer to see his team lose this year’s Presidents Cup. 

The US captain is preparing his side for the biennial match against the International Team in Montreal next week knowing this could be his last involvement in big team golf events.

He is absolutely desperate to lead the overwhelming favourites to victory on away soil.

And in an excellent, wide-ranging Q&A with Golfweek’s Adam Schupack, he strongly dismissed any notion that fans should want US to lose for the sake of the competition.

In the Presidents Cup 30-year history, the US have won 12 of the 14 matches and their only defeat to a team made up from the rest of the world (excluding Europe) came way back in 1998.

That’s led to concerns over the contest’s future and how an International victory later this month could boost the Presidents Cup’s profile  – but Furyk isn’t having any of it.

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When journalist Schupack suggested he wanted the US to lose for that very reason, Furyk hit back.

“Really? You’re American. You’ve got to understand, I do actually take offense at that,” the former US Open champion said. “I don’t hate you but it’s a pretty sh**** thing to say.

“I was in New York helping out Steve Stricker at Liberty National and a very high-ranking official at the PGA Tour said, “Good luck, this week.” Just the way he said it, it was so back-handed. I said, “You know, I’m not exactly sure I know what that’s suppose to mean.”

“He said, ‘Well, you know, it would really help the event.’ I said, “Really? Did you ever play anything in your entire life as a competitor? Because I’d rather you not even say good luck than say it and not even mean it.

“Do you know how hard, how many hours, the captains work to try to win these matches? Do you know how hard and how much effort the players, how hard they take it when they don’t play well?

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“I’ve seen grown men cry in the locker room because they’re upset and I’ve seen how much it means to them when they do play well. I know what you’re saying, but do you know how offended I am?”

He said, ‘Well, I’m sorry.’ I said, ‘No, you should know better.’ So it’s not like I’m killing you right now, but f***k. Go f*** yourself. You can quote me on that one.”

For a man as seemingly placid as Furyk, this was quite the response.

However, similar questions will undoubtedly keep being asked if Mike Weir’s International team are heavily beaten at Royal Montreal from September 26-29.

At the Solheim Cup, winning US skipper Stacy Lewis suggested the match should become a mixed event to even up the teams.

“I’d love to see the Presidents Cup become mixed,” Lewis said. “It’s the perfect way to blend the two tours. The international team will get better very quickly.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.