Jim Furyk Adds Two Trusted Veterans as Vice Captains for Team USA’s 2027 Ryder Cup Mission

Ryder Cup 2027 is still a year away, but the captain of the U.S. squad, Jim Furyk, is already making decisive moves. Furyk moved to bolster the Team USA roster, selecting his vice captains for the historic event.

The 17-time PGA winner named Justin Leonard & Stewart Cink as the vice captains, while he leads from the front as skipper.

“Adding Stewart and Justin to our leadership team is a crucial step as we prepare for Adare Manor in 2027,” Furyk said in a press release Saturday as shared via Golfweek.

That call brings Leonard & Cink, the two former players with long Ryder Cup history, back into the U.S. setup, this time in support roles.

Leonard’s Ryder Cup legacy is headlined by the 1999 Ryder Cup at The Country Club in Brookline, though he made his debut two years earlier at Valderrama. 

He made the 45-foot birdie putt against José María Olazábal that helped complete the U.S. comeback and secure the Cup. He went on to make three Ryder Cup appearances and was part of two U.S. wins.

Cink’s Ryder Cup path was longer. He played in five straight editions from 2002 to 2010 and gave the U.S. a steady presence across that stretch. He was part of the 2008 winning team and closed his Ryder Cup run in 2010 without losing a match.

“Both [Stewart & Justin] have played vital roles on past U.S. Ryder Cup Teams and will bring exceptional expertise and passion to our team room. Together, we are focused on our collective goal of winning back the Ryder Cup in Ireland,” added the 2021 U.S. Senior Open winner.

Cink has experience as a Ryder Cup vice captain, serving in the role in 2023 before joining Furyk again at the 2024 Presidents Cup.

Leonard also worked under Furyk in Montreal, but his appointment for Adare Manor will be his first as a Ryder Cup vice captain.

Justin Leonard and Stewart Cink on joining Jim Furyk’s Ryder Cup staff

Both Leonard and Cink spoke to what the Ryder Cup has meant to them over the years and what it now means to return in a different role.

“I am truly honored to be chosen as one of Jim’s Vice Captains for the 2027 Ryder Cup,” said Leonard.

Echoing that sentiment, a 52-year-old Cink added:

“I could not be more excited for the opportunity to join Jim’s team and represent the United States in the 2027 Ryder Cup.” 

The trio shares a long history in team competition.

Leonard and Cink were both part of the U.S. team that won the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla. They now return to the same side under Jim Furyk for the 2027 matches at Adare Manor.

Their overlap goes beyond Ryder Cup week. Both now play on the PGA Tour Champions, and both built much of their early record in match play, including consistent runs at the WGC-Match Play Championship in the early 2000s.