Evolution the Ryder Cup key for Donald and Furyk

Luke Donald and Jim Furyk may have both seen it all before but the two captains know they will need to find something new if they are to guide their teams to victory at next year’s Ryder Cup.

Donald will lead Europe for a third consecutive edition when the biennial spectacular celebrates its centenary at Adare Manor, having led his continent to victory in Rome in 2023 and New York last year.

Furyk, meanwhile, is seeking some redemption in Ireland after his first campaign leading the United States ended in defeat at Le Golf National in 2018.

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The duo and their wives Diane and Tabitha have spent the past two days gearing up for next year at the official Year to Go celebrations, with a concert at King John’s Castle, a visit to Rathbone Golf Club and a gala dinner at Adare Manor all part of festivities.

On Tuesday it was time to face the world’s media, a familiar experience for two men with three captaincies, 13 Ryder Cups as players and numerous vice captaincies between them.

But with a new venue, potential new players and an ever-evolving game, they both revealed they are always learning as they look for the edge that can bring victory.

“The journey has been incredible,” said Donald. “To have this opportunity once again, to be able to be a captain once, to do it multiple times, is truly an honour and a privilege. This is the third time in a row for me and I'm excited.

“The journey, it's a long one. It's something as captains you think about immensely. You think about things every day. You're always working on a plan to give your team the best opportunity. Plans are well under way but very excited for what's to come.

LIMERICK, IRELAND - OCTOBER 06: Jim Furyk, Team USA Captain, speaks during the Ryder Cup 2027 Year to Go Press Conference at Adare Manor on October 06, 2026 in Limerick, Ireland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“I think every Ryder Cup is unique, whether you're playing home, whether you're playing away, the venue you're at, the players that you get to captain. It's always ever-changing, and I think the task at hand is always different.

“So you know, while I've been captain three times in a row now, those things are always evolving. So it's been fun to kind of think about new ideas, new ways, keep things a little fresh for the players that I'll be captaining.

“You're going to ultimately have some changes amongst the team.

“So getting to know new players, new rookies, and then we'll rally around something. We'll come up with the idea that we'll hopefully focus all these guys and get them in a really good frame of mind.

“You know, those decisions and thoughts are certainly ongoing. Nothing is in concrete right now. You're sort of figuring stuff out and the closer you get to the event, you sort of have those concrete ideas. But very excited about the opportunity and the challenge.”

Furyk may be returning to the helm after some time away but he echoed Donald’s sentiments and was hoping to take something from the United States’ recent Presidents Cup victory, where they came from behind in the singles to defeat the Internationals.

LIMERICK, IRELAND - OCTOBER 06: Luke Donald, Team Europe Captain, speaks during the Ryder Cup 2027 Year to Go Press Conference at Adare Manor on October 06, 2026 in Limerick, Ireland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“I think the word that Luke used we use a lot in our organisation is evolve,” he said. “Even the best players in the world, they are trying to stay on top of their games, they are trying to find ways to get better and evolve.

“We're not real happy with the last two results, so, yes, change will be made. We're going to evolve. We're going to get better, noticeably, I guess, right off the bat, a new points system moving forward, a new analytics team moving forward. But a number of different changes coming and stuff that we're very excited about.

“I had an opportunity to sit in the team room last week at Medinah at the Presidents Cup, so I had the opportunity to see that team first-hand. I like the fact that we can build our programme on some continuity from year-to-year.

“But right now, it's a lot of logistics. I changed a few things immediately upon taking the captaincy. Working on a lot of travel, being here at Adare, working on some team spaces and trying to figure out how Tabitha and I will build the team room.

“You're always coming up with new, creative ways to create that team atmosphere and that bond, but we've got a lot to work on as I said, I feel blessed. I've had some ideas and thoughts about how I thought Team USA could and should be run in the future. I think Terry Clark, our (PGA of America) CEO and I, aligned on those, and I feel extremely blessed that I was the one chosen to make that charge and change things here for the future, not only for here at Adare Manor but in years to come.”

Europe’s victory at Bethpage Black 12 months ago was the first by a visiting team in the Ryder Cup for 13 years and the United States have not won on European soil since 1993.

LIMERICK, IRELAND - OCTOBER 06: Jim Furyk, Team USA Captain, and his wife Tabitha Furyk pose for a photograph with the Ryder Cup Trophy alongside Diane Donald and her husband Luke Donald, Team Europe Captain, during the Ryder Cup 2027 Year to Go Captains Photoshoot at Adare Manor on October 06, 2026 in Limerick, Ireland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Despite that – often based on the Official World Golf Ranking – the American team are often considered favourites for victory and may be again in 2027, although Furyk was keen to quash any such notion.

“We're the underdogs,” he said. “I know it's always been played, we come in, the Americans seem to be the favourites.

“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 ducks in a row and put these guys in a good position and let our guys go out and show their talent.

“It's going to be difficult. The fans here... Irish fans, Irish sports are amazing but folks are going come in droves from all over Europe to support their favourite 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.”

Since Continental Europe joined Great Britain and Ireland in taking on the United States, they have lost just twice on the eastern side of the Atlantic.

For his part, Donald is fully aware that Ryder Cups are won by players, not geography, as he looks to defend that proud record.

“I have zero complacency about how strong the US are going to be,” he said. “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 US will be very strong.

“For us, underdog is a mentality. We always want to prove something to ourselves, to the rest of the world.”

The debate over who is the underdog and who will be the top dog is one that will continue until the first tee shot is hit at Adare Manor.

For Donald, Furyk and their evolving plans, there is a Year to Go.