‘Big change’ promised as Ryder Cup bosses to rip up qualification format for floundering USA

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Desperate times call for desperate measures and these are desperate times for the US Ryder Cup team.Changes are afoot ahead the much anticipated renewal of the matches in Ireland next year as the United States chase a win on European soil.Jim Furyk will captain the US Ryder Cup team in 2027GettySeptember 1993 was the last time the US were victorious in opposition territory – over that same period Europe have won four times in the US.That includes last year when captain Luke Donald led his team to victory at Bethpage, defending the trophy that they won in 2023.Donald will be back for a third spell as captain at what is expected to be a raucous Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland.Why does Jim Furyk want to change Ryder Cup qualification? Each of Team USA’s last four wins have been in the US, meaning it will be 33 years since their success at The Belfry in England under Tom Watson. The conclusion of the FedEx Cup playoffs is expected to coincide with an announcement of changes to the qualification process to get into Jim Furyk‘s team.In 2025, the top six players from the points list earned their place on the team by right, while six players were handed wild cards to make the team.Ever since he was announced as captain for the second time, Furyk has suggested that the selection process would change.And in an interview with Golfweek ahead of this week’s St Jude Championship that starts the run to the Tour Championship, Furyk doubled down on ripping up what has gone before.“It’s going to be a big change,” Furyk said.“It’s going to be the right way to identify the best six players in September 2027.”Team USA were beaten in 2025 at Bethpage and will head to Ireland next yearGettyLuke Donald will lead Europe chasing a third successive Ryder Cup victoryGettyFuryk refused to go much further than that but his comments are in line with what he wanted when he was confirmed as returning captain.The belief is that too much weight is given to the Signature Events and majors as prize money is naturally much higher for those tournaments.As such, players running into good form in the weeks leading up to the tournament may run the risk of missing out to a major winner who may have lost form.After his appointment, Furyk wasted no time in addressing the ‘problem’ that they believe has dogged them over the recent past“Right now everything is working off of money,” he said in May, per Golfweek.“Purses are so out whack, the landscape has changed so much in the last five years.Scottie Scheffler is chasing a first win since January on the PGA TourFuryk was a losing captain at the 2018 Ryder Cup in ParisGetty“We need to come up with a fair assessment of how to identify those six players. I think we are going to end up with a point system of some sort.”It appears that decision is close to being finalised but one man for whom it is unlikely to matter is world No.1 Scottie Scheffer.Barring injury he will again be a mainstay on the team and he fired a blistering second round 61 to lead by three shots at the halfway stage of the FedEx St Jude Championship.At the close of play on Sunday the top 50 in the FedEx standings will advance to the BMW Championship, and from there the top 30 at that event will advance to the Tour Championship over the last week in August.Once the champion is crowned, the race to the Ryder Cup will begin with confirmation of the dates and the qualification formula to end the drought.