U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk is wasting no time building his leadership team for the 2027 showdown, announcing Saturday that Stewart Cink and Justin Leonard will serve as vice captains for the biennial grudge match at Adare Manor in Ireland.
The move reunites Furyk with the same duo that helped him guide Team USA to victory at the 2024 Presidents Cup, signaling a vote of confidence in their experience and chemistry. Both Cink and Leonard bring a wealth of match-play pedigree to the table, having worn the red, white, and blue in some of the most memorable moments in Ryder Cup history.
"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. "Both 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."
For Leonard, the appointment is a homecoming of sorts. The 53-year-old etched his name into Ryder Cup lore in 1999, when he drained a legendary long birdie putt to halve his match against Jose Maria Olazabal at The Country Club in Brookline, sealing the U.S. victory in one of the most dramatic comebacks in sports history. A 1997 British Open champion and 12-time PGA Tour winner, Leonard represented the stars and stripes in three Ryder Cups and five Presidents Cups over his career. This marks his first time as a Ryder Cup vice captain.
"I am truly honored to be chosen as one of Jim's Vice Captains for the 2027 Ryder Cup," Leonard said. "The Ryder Cup provided many of the greatest moments of my career, and I am eager to jump in and help our team as we prepare for Ireland."
Cink, meanwhile, brings a steady hand and a winning résumé. The 2009 British Open champion competed in five straight Ryder Cups from 2002 to 2010, including the U.S. victory at Valhalla in 2008. An eight-time PGA Tour winner, Cink has found a second wind on the PGA Tour Champions, racking up seven wins in just 42 starts on the senior circuit. This will be his second stint as a Ryder Cup vice captain, following his role at Marco Simone in 2023.
"I could not be more excited for the opportunity to join Jim's team and represent the United States in the 2027 Ryder Cup," Cink said.
With the Irish crowd at Adare Manor sure to bring the heat, Furyk is banking on Cink and Leonard to bring the cool-headed leadership needed to bring the Cup back to American soil.