Team USA captain Jim Furyk has urged his veterans to “step up” and take players “under their wing” to help them end their Ryder Cup losing streak on European soil.

Furyk captains the United States at Adare Manor next September, live on Sky Sports, having previously guided Team USA to defeat in the 2018 contest at Le Golf National before leading them to 2024 Presidents Cup victory over the Internationals in Montreal.

The former US Open champion has been involved in every American Ryder Cup team in some capacity since 1997, with Team USA heading to Ireland for the centenary edition looking to claim a first away victory over Team Europe in 34 years.

Furyk’s tasks include trying to create a strong team unity within the American team and improving their abysmal foursomes record, having lost 26 of their last 34 matches in the format, although he has already identified other growth areas.

“If you saw our team room and you see they travel together, these guys get along well and they’re fine, but we haven’t got it done from a team perspective,” Furyk told Sky Sports.

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“I think we’re going to go top to bottom (to improve things). We’re going to start with the captains, getting them (the players) in better pairings and getting them more prepared in the way we practice and get ready.

“The way we look at it throughout the year, it’s not like you throw these guys together 12 days out in advance and then you figure it out! This is a process and it’s something we need to be thinking about all year long in 2027.

“I need my veterans to step up, take some of the younger players under their wing and play practice rounds with them. Let them know what the Ryder Cup is all about, what they can expect on that first tee and get them excited about making this team.

“That process is not a one-month window. For us it needs to be a 24-month window, if that makes sense. We should be thinking about the Ryder Cup all the time and it’s something I’d like to put in place.”

Furyk has served as a vice-captain for the last three Ryder Cups since losing 17.5-10.5 at Le Golf National in 2018, where he admitted his captain’s picks left him without “horses for the course”.

He said in a pre-Ryder Cup press conference on Tuesday he would “do more than any American team has in the past” to deny counterpart Luke Donald a historic three-peat, with Furyk prepared to draw from past experiences of being involved with Team USA.

“You would have to be arrogant to say ‘no, we didn’t win, but I do it exactly the same!’,” Furyk added when asked about learnings from the 2018 loss. “Of course you wouldn’t!

“I was getting started in that captaincy career back then. I’d played in a lot of events, but sitting on the other side as a captain is a totally different process and a totally different outlook on teams.

“I think I’ve grown as a leader. I think I’ve been a backboard for some of our captains along the way, with the experience I’ve had.

“To have that opportunity now to come back as captain for a Ryder Cup, and maybe pave the way for the future for this American team, is something I’m very proud to be asked to do. I take it very, very seriously.”

Donald: I don’t want an American win on my watch!

Furyk claimed in Tuesday’s press conference his side were “underdogs” heading to next year’s contest, despite likely having a stronger side based on the world rankings, while Donald is keen to lead Europe to more success in the biennial contest.

“I think we have a good process in place with a great team, people who work really hard behind the scenes, but every Ryder Cup is different,” Donald told Sky Sports.

“It’s a unique course, different players usually and you’ve got to bring something new, different aspects to make it fun and different aspects to get them in the right frame of mind.

“Those decisions are ongoing and really churning around the brain, but hopefully we’ll be ready. I expect there to be a few changes this year. I think that’s good, to have a little bit of freshness, bring on the next generation of players and get them involved.

“As I’ve said many times, I think home Ryder Cups still offer the most pressure to protect that record that we have – it’s no small feat. Someone’s American team are bound to win away at some point – I just don’t want it to be on my watch!

“We’ve had a lot of success the last four years and we’ll take that confidence into this one. We understand that we’ve defended home soil very well and I think that’s something to lean into.

“The underdog is just a mentality thing for us – we want to prove we can beat the might of the United States. “

Who will win the 2027 Ryder Cup? Watch the centenary edition live from September 17-19 on Sky Sports. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract.

National Hunt action comes from Worcester and Sedgefield on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Racing.

1.05 Worcester – Dartan and Snipe contest strong handicap chase

Dartan and Snipe contest the CopyBet Follow Us On X Handicap Chase – the most valuable race on this afternoon’s card.

The 130-rated Dartan takes the drop-in class after being tailed off in a handicap hurdle at Haydock in April. He has since had wind surgery which could bring about some much-needed improvement, given his chase record currently reads zero from four. Champion jockey Sean Bowen retains the ride.

Snipe – trained by champion trainer Dan Skelton – is far more exposed over fences than Dartan, having won four times in 24 over the larger obstacles. He was beaten in a three-runner race at Warwick last month by a short head and drops in trip today to two miles and seven furlongs.

King Roly is two from four at Worcester, with the most recent of those victories coming on his penultimate start over today’s distance. He bolted up at 5/1 under James Bowen that day but is now 6lbs above that mark.

1.50 Sedgefield – Interesting Arms Park makes hurdle debut

Arms Park is an interesting runner in our opening Mowden Park RFC Maiden Hurdle, making his debut over obstacles.

This son of Walk In The Park is lightly raced after picking up one victory from three bumpers, where he travelled strongly to make all under James Bowen at Taunton. He tanked through the race in eye-catching style that day and he arrives as an exciting prospect for the upcoming season. Interestingly enough, Act Of Innocence won this race in 2025 before going on to score in the Sidney Banks prior to producing a career best in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Dunstall Star is the most experienced in here but disappointed last time at Worcester and will need to be better to compete with Arms Park. Military Cross chased home a potentially nice horse of Gordon Elliott’s in a Cartmel maiden hurdle the last day and could serve it up to Arms Park.

2.50 Sedgefield – Jet Of Dreams attempts to defy 7lb penalty

Jet Of Dreams will attempt to defy the penalty given to him in the Jodie Standings Point-To-Point Recruits Handicap Chase.

Warren Greatrex’s eight-year-old followed up his seasonal reappearance with a nice victory over course and distance last Tuesday, being nursed into the race before winning well. If he produces a similar display today, he could be hard to beat.

Kientzheim – owned by JP McManus – hasn’t taken to fences thus far but her peak hurdling rating of 121 suggests Ben Haslam’s mare has plenty of ability if she can rectify her jumping. Kevin Brogan comes in for the ride, replacing Harry Cobden.

Neigh Botha was pulled up at Worcester in July but had notched up three wins from his four starts prior. This Greenall and Guerriero runner will have benefitted from a break and if fit, could be right in the mix. Lady Kara completes the quartet and looks to be on the up, having only been beaten two lengths by Jet Of Dreams over this course and distance last month.

Best of the rest

Perfect Pitch, a Wootton Bassett colt with an entry in the Criterium International, runs in Chantilly’s Prix du Grand Vivier at 11.17am. He was a tad disappointing on debut at Saint-Cloud but should progress today in the Juddmonte colours.

Worcester’s 2.35pm CopyBet Supporting UK Horse Racing Fillies’ Juvenile Maiden Hurdle sees Miss Moffett – a half-sister to Nube Negra – make her debut for the Skelton team. After failing to fire on the Flat, Big Orange’s half-sister Miss Malone To You tackles hurdles for the first time.

At Sedgefield, Sam England’s Littletown Lad goes for the hat-trick in the 3.50pm Winning Connections Conference Hire Handicap Hurdle.

Cole Campbell was 18 years old when he made his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund. But a subsequent loan move to Hoffenheim did not work out and he had to wait almost two years for his first start in the competition. It was worth that wait.

Now at Elversberg, the Texas-born forward marked his full Bundesliga debut with a goal in a 3-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen. He has since started in the 4-3 win at Borussia Monchengladbach. Only an offside flag denied him an equaliser against Bayern Munich.

“I went to celebrate and then when I turned around I was confused because I did not see any of my team-mates. It was an amazing feeling even though it did not count.” Amazing is a word that he returns to often in explaining his emotions this past month.

And why not? Elversberg, this tiny German club playing in the top division for the first time, could not have been where he envisages his career kickstarting aged 20. But four games into the season and this young group of players are the talk of the Bundesliga.

“The expectation was actually quite the opposite of what we have already shown,” says Campbell. “We are just giving everything that we have and trying to play the best football that we can.” And that means playing without fear, taking the game to teams like Bayern.

“It is obviously a different level when you are playing against some of the best players in the world.” But the key to it is “not to worry about who is standing there” and that has been evident in Elversberg’s approach, epitomised by their enterprising forward play.

“Bravery for me as an offensive player is to not be afraid of going one against one and trying something instead of being scared and not trying it because of their reputation. Something we will continue to do is be brave, give 100 per cent and see what happens.”

Speaking to Campbell, he sounds at home already. Asked who his friends are at the club and he name-checks most of the squad. “We are a very close team. I cannot say one guy.” Elversberg even reminds him of Iceland, where he spent part of his childhood.

“There are definitely similarities,” he says. “That small-town feel is similar to when I was in Iceland so I really like it here.” He enjoys visiting the coffee shops and has a fondness for schnitzel. “But I cannot eat it so often because it is not the most healthy thing.”

He has embraced life in Germany, learned the language too. “Before that, it was a bit difficult.” Maybe his multi-cultural background helps. His mother is Rakel Karvelsson, the former Iceland international. “I can also train with her, which is fun,” he reveals.

She still challenges him to the odd two-touch game. “She does not win anymore. When I was 14 or 15, I started to beat her.” Campbell will not be following in her footsteps with Iceland though. He has declared for the United States instead. “That is set in stone.” He was rewarded with a senior debut in the win over Canada this week.

What is not set in stone is how his career progresses and if it feels like an overstatement to suggest that Campbell was at a crossroads this summer, considering how difficult these past two years have been. It has been a waiting game for him after that initial breakthrough.

“I was expecting to play more,” he concedes of his time at Hoffenheim. Five months yielded only five substitute appearances for the club. “Maybe someone else will look at it and say it was a waste for me.” But Campbell himself refuses to see it that way.

“My mindset then was a lot different than it is now. The things that I have learned in these 22 months I would not have learned if things had happened differently.” It was character building, then? “Without this then my character would not have changed.”

Campbell adds: “Trusting in the plan that God has for you is something that you always have to do. God has a plan. I believe that it also strengthened my relationship with him and strengthened my mental toughness. I have become a better player.”

These references to his religious beliefs are frequent throughout this 40-minute audience with a group of journalists from around the world. Asked about comparisons with Christian Pulisic, he says: “Comparison is the thief of joy. That is in The Bible.”

On the subject of his Christianity, Campbell is at his most eloquent and it becomes clear that the process of rationalising this period in which his career plateaued was made manageable as a result of his faith. “It is very important to me,” he explains.

“It is easy to get caught up in football and the things that surround it but in football there are so many ups and downs. It is a bumpy road, you are going to have lows. It’s the same with life. To have God to hold onto in those times is something that kept me going.

“I can be the best footballer and achieve everything but in the end it means nothing if I do not have God by my side so my faith is everything for me. I want to tell people what I believe in and impact people in a positive way. For me, it is the most important thing.”

Regardless, Campbell still needs to succeed as a player to have this platform. And so, particularly after the Hoffenheim experience, this move to Elversberg had to work. “I needed to get minutes for my career and to play a bigger role than what I had at Dortmund.”

He adds: “The move for me was very important. And I think now, I am getting minutes, which is the most important for me to develop and to become the best player that I can be. This step in my career was the right one. And I am happy that I came here.”

He is their record signing. “There is pressure that comes with it. But on the other hand, there is also a lot of trust from them to believe in me. And I would say that the pressure that I put on myself to perform was already there before the money was involved.”

Campbell talks warmly of the atmosphere surrounding the football club and on a practical level can certainly be encouraged by how Nick Woltemade, Younes Ebnoutalib and Fisnik Asllani have all come to Elversberg and progressed their careers as a result.

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Kick off 5:30pm

“When you have other players that have gone there, they have gotten their minutes and they have developed and made a big step for themselves, that obviously it helps,” he acknowledges. “It had an influence on me coming here. It was the right step.”

Conversations with the club’s hierarchy convinced him. “They explained their plan and what the club is about.” And head coach Vincent Wagner is already proving a positive influence. “My defensive work is something that has improved a lot. He is helping me.”

The challenge now, with Elversberg’s support, is to become “the best version” of himself. “I do not think there is any right path. Every player is different.” But this path is working for Cole Campbell, a United States international now and seizing his Bundesliga chance.