Furyk chose Leonard, Cink as Ryder Cup assistant captain

Louisville, Ky. — US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk Saturday said that Justin Leonard And Stuart Zink He will have two assistants for the 2027 match at Adare Manor in Ireland.

Furyk announced the selection at the Kentucky Derby. Both were under consideration as captains and their appointment could indicate future captaincy.

Leonard played in three Ryder Cups — including two U.S. wins — and is best known for his 45-foot birdie putt at The Country Club in 1999 that sparked the Americans’ comeback against Europe.

This is Leonard’s first time as a Ryder Cup assistant. He was an assistant under Furyk at the 2024 Presidents Cup, and Furyk referred to him as “my right-hand man”.

“The most organized, meticulous person I know,” Furyk said. “So, when I got this job, the first guy I called was Justin Leonard.”

Cink has played on five consecutive US teams, including part of the 2008 US victory at Valhalla. He was the assistant captain Jack Johnson In Italy in 2023, a great European victory.

Europe has won twice before. Luke Donald Returns as captain and will try to become the first to win three straight in the Ryder Cup.

Furyk played in his first Ryder Cup in 1997 and has been a part of every team since as a player, assistant or captain. It will be his second time captaining the U.S. side that lost in Paris in 2018.

The Americans haven’t won the Ryder Cup away from home since 1993.