When Steve Stricker was named the U.S. Ryder Cup captain early last year, he promptly named Jim Furyk as a vice captain.
On Monday, Stricker added two more.
This fall, two-time Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III and two-time major champion Zach Johnson will join Stricker’s staff as the U.S. attempts to regain the little gold trophy held by the Europeans, the PGA of America announced in a statement. Stricker also will name one or more vice captains in the future.
Europe was won nine of the past 12 matches.
“It’s important to surround yourself with quality individuals who you can lean on and who have the best interests of the team in mind,” Stricker said in the release. “Jim and I have talked about this a lot in the last year and now we are happy to add two Ryder Cup veterans in Zach and Davis to the conversation with the goal of putting this team in a prime position to win.
“Both Zach and Davis share a passion to compete at the highest level and are strong communicators, which is important, especially when we’re in the heat of competition.”
The 2020 Ryder Cup is scheduled for September 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, although the COVID-19 global pandemic could force a change. The PGA Tour is planning to restart June 11 with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Love was the Ryder Cup captain in 2012 when the Europeans stormed back from a 10-4 deficit to win 14½-13½ at Medinah Country Club north of Chicago. Love also captained the USA’s ship in 2016 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, where the Americans won, 17-11. Love played in the Ryder Cup six times and was a vice captain in 2010 and 2018.
“Steve has been such a consistent presence on this team, both as a player and as a vice captain, and now it’s his time to lead,” Love said. “He has a terrific vision for what he wants our U.S. team to not only accomplish, but represent, all year long.
“I’m confident in the program he has in place and am anxious to get to work.”
Johnson, who played in the Ryder Cup five times, was a vice captain in 2018 when the U.S. was routed, 17½-10½, at Le Golf National in Paris. Johnson also served under captain Tiger Woods in the 2019 Presidents Cup, where the Americans won, 16-14, at Royal Melbourne in Australia.
“In a domestic Ryder Cup,” Johnson said, “it’s important to defend ‘our turf,’ and to do so on behalf of Steve – in his home state at Whistling Straits – is a great opportunity for our team to make a statement.”
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