News
Jim Furyk on Patrick Reed’s comments, rumored Johnson-Koepka fight
Speaking today with Golf Channel’s Tim Rosaforte, 2018 U.S. Team Ryder Cup Captain, Jim Furyk broke his silence on some of the rumors surrounding the fractious atmosphere among some of the U.S. players at Le Golf National.
Last week, Patrick Reed suggested that Jordan Spieth was the reason behind the breakup of their successful partnership on the course, while Reed’s wife and mother-in-law have both since criticized the pairings selected by Furyk last week in Paris. Today, however, Furyk claimed that Reed had been in the know regarding his pairing with Woods for “weeks in advance.” Reed, for his part, had said he was “blindsided” by the split.
“When I started looking at who (Tiger) would pair well with, I kept coming back to Patrick Reed. There was always the idea that we could go Tiger and JT (Justin Thomas), and Patrick and Jordan, but ultimately they knew going into the week, weeks in advance, they knew they would start the Ryder Cup with Patrick and Tiger being partners.”
Furyk also responded to claims over the fallout between good friends Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka following the heavy defeat suffered by the United States in Paris. Unlike others, Furyk didn’t refute that there had indeed been an altercation, but the 48-year-old insists that any incident that did occur was brief and insignificant.
“Whatever altercation started, or what happened, it was very brief. It was very short. Neither one of them really took anything out of it. They’re like brothers. Brothers may argue, brothers get into it. But they’re as close as they’ve ever been, and it really had no effect on either one of them.”
Reflecting on his team’s defeat in Paris, Furyk said that it has been “tough” for the last week and that the loss will “always bother me.” Despite the heavy defeat and the messy aftermath, the American re-iterated his belief in the 12 players that went to Paris with him, stating:
“I’d take those 12 players into the fire any day, on any course. And I still would. Last week didn’t work out the way we wanted, but I love those guys, and I love what we had together in the team room. And I’d do it all over again.”
What do you make of Jim Furyk’s comments?
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Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Gimmie Hendrix
Oct 9, 2018 at 7:20 am
Since when is “loving those guys” relevant to coaching victory. Americanism. You guys won’t touch that cup for 50 years, just watch.
Christopher Hansen
Oct 8, 2018 at 8:18 pm
If the US team only knows what it’s like to compete as individuals, it’s not surprising that they couldn’t create any synergy. Learning how to set your partner up as a ‘enabler’ role is a different mindset – and that means knowing what your partners need to succeed. If they all play their own game, that’s hardly a compromise or a recipe for success. Also, none of these guys are really good links style players, and most don’t have an abundance of playing overseas where conditions can be drastically different. Showing up 1 week in advance on an international travel commitment, and following a major and some intense FedEx cup tournaments is hardly what I’d call preparing for a major team event.
Furyk is a straight shooter, and wants to win. He is one of the good guys.
Granted Furyk doesn’t appear to have a huge pile of experience in overseas play or team-based play @ the elite Pro level, but that’s not what’s holding things back.
What does EU do that USA doesn’t do? Maybe start there.
I like Tiger as the Captain for his overseas playing experience, and Furyk as a team member.
Drop Phil, he was a poor choice, and his ability to be successful in this format is questionable.
Reed can partner up with whoever they want, but until these players figure out how to play to their partner’s strengths and weaknesses, it’s not going to result in a win.
Lastly, US Tour players seem to have gotten used to plush courses with easier setups – presumably to boost low scores and generate tv ‘shock and awe’. No one who is serious about golf as a sport wants to see -22 on the leaderboard (and takes that seriously as the ultimate test of the field). We want to see the course eat up the players and really challenge them – closer to Par is expected, with some minor aggregates for 4 days of play. PGA could set these courses up a lot harder, if they chose to. maybe time to stop coddling the kids and cut the apron strings?
John
Oct 8, 2018 at 3:49 pm
At least it’s good to know that Reed doesn’t only use his mouth for eating doughnuts.
DaveyD
Oct 8, 2018 at 3:33 pm
You never lose your way if you stick to the high road.
Pru
Oct 8, 2018 at 1:56 pm
He should be POTUS at some point. He speaks well, and is a great liar.
Travis
Oct 10, 2018 at 9:43 am
Sarcasm at its best!
Jim
Oct 8, 2018 at 1:28 pm
Not that it’s very important, but it would be interesting to hear the real truth about this Reed-Spieth thing. Reed keeps throwing Spieth under the bus, and “calling him out” for some unknown reason. At the same time, we read that Reed had been begging to play with Tiger. Though, after Reed’s ruling comment about Spieth a few months ago, I can see why Spieth might not have wanted to partner with him.
Rusty Carr
Oct 8, 2018 at 12:42 pm
To say you would not change a thing after the results you achieved cements the opinion that you do not deserve another chance to captain the team. The captain must shoulder the blame when the team results don’t come come close to the team potential. This petty bickering is no way to win and sets a bad example for future teams.
Tom
Oct 8, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Is that kiwi polish you using now?. Nice shine on the head!
Geoffrey Holland
Oct 8, 2018 at 11:41 am
Picking a guy with a 10-20-4 record to captain a Ryder Cup team was suicidal. Simply a bad decision no matter how good of a guy he is.
Jamie
Oct 8, 2018 at 3:06 pm
What’s worse is that the Americans have been getting blasted at the RC for so long that one must ask if any of the 45+ YO veterans have a decent record.
Jack Nash
Oct 8, 2018 at 3:40 pm
So was adding Woods and Mickelson. Combined 43 losses.
David Ross
Oct 8, 2018 at 11:41 am
I heard Koepka jumped over the fence and beat up Johnson’s caddy… wait… wrong sport
dixiedoc
Oct 8, 2018 at 11:38 am
We need to pick the players to win the Cup not players to enhance the viewership (Phil and Tiger). The players should also realize the old cliche that there is no I in team
Scheiss
Oct 8, 2018 at 1:58 pm
Eldrick knows nothing about team
JP
Oct 8, 2018 at 10:40 pm
Tiger said he’s a tiem player.
Paul Vicaru
Oct 8, 2018 at 11:18 am
Jimmy has always been a straight shooter. You may not always agree with his message but the man has no hidden agenda. Just sorry it didn’t work out for him this year. He truly is one of the good guys
Dan Konold
Oct 8, 2018 at 12:22 pm
Amen.
geohogan
Dec 21, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Jim has character. Something Reed knows nothing about.
Usa needs team players. Reed regardless of his standings should never be on another Ryder Cup, along with Phil and Tiger. Time for new blood.
Brooks, “juice” Koepka should fly with Ernie “now lets fight” Els.
Pay for view, anyone?