Rather like working on the sports desk, the Ryder Cup captaincy is one of those eat, sleep and breathe it roles … just with not as much eating or sleeping. The all-consuming nature of being a skipper in the modern era just about overwhelms everything else. If you’re not constantly peering at the automatic qualifying points list or worrying about your wildcards, then you’re fretting about the soft furnishings that will add ambience to the team room. Ask some of the recent incumbents of the position on either side of the transatlantic divide about the one thing that was affected most by the trials and tribulations of being captain and they’ll probably say their own golf. It probably left them tearing their hair out. At least Jim Furyk doesn’t have to worry about that. The glabrous golfer, who was named as the USA’s captain for the 2018 match in Paris, remains convinced that the hoopla surrounding his appointment will not impact on his game. While many have suggested that the 46-year-old could still qualify for the team as a player in his own right – Furyk remains a highly competitive campaigner on the PGA Tour – the former US Open champion insists achieving that feat is not at the forefront of his mind. The late, great Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain back in 1963 but Furyk, who is currently ranked at No 37 in the world rankings, is not entertaining any such notions.
"I think I can be captain and also play the tour successfully but I'd say being captain right now is more important than playing on the Ryder Cup team," said Furyk, who was on seven losing sides in his nine Ryder Cup playing appearances. “In terms of making the team, my first and foremost thoughts right now are on the captaincy and trying to do the best job I can. If I had a shot to finish in the top eight in points we can bridge that gap next year. Is it possible? I guess it is but it is not something I spend a lot of time thinking about. I don't want to say no but my main focus is on being a captain."
While Furyk eases himself into his new role, Rory McIlroy, one of the players Furyk’s US team will no doubt come up against in 2018, swung into the new year with a purposeful five-under 67 in round one of the BMW South African Open.
The world No 2, who is the hot favourite for success in the first European Tour event of 2017, tucked himself into second place, just a shot behind early frontrunners, Trevor Fisher Jnr and Keith Horne.
Starting on the 10th tee, McIlroy opened with a stream of four pars before an approach in close on the 14th set up the first birdie of the day. Two more followed at the 15th and 16th before he trundled in a 20-footer on the 17th to reach the turn in four-under. "I felt like I gave myself a lot of chances on our front nine and hat four under could probably have been six or seven,” he conceded.
A couple of bogeys on his inward half halted his clamber but a trio of birdies kept him perfectly poised heading into the second round.
“For the first competitive round of 2017, I'm quite pleased,” said McIlroy. “It was a bit scrappy in places around the last few holes but five-under is a good way to start. Weather-wise, there was not much wind, there was a score to be had out there. If we get conditions like that for the rest of the week I can definitely go lower."
David Drysdale made a solid start to the week with a two-under 70 but it was a day to forget for the rest of the small Scottish contingent in the field. Duncan Stewart, who graduated to the main circuit from last year’s Challenge Tour, could only muster a six-over 78 while Scott Henry, who regained his tour card at the qualifying school but has already missed his first two cuts of the new season, looks set for another early exit after sagging to a 79. Craig Ross, the Kirkhill amateur who earned an invitation to the event as a reward for winning last year’s South African Amateur Championship, also struggled to a seven-over score.
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