Six days after being tabbed as captain for the US team at the 2024 Presidents Cup, Jim Furyk was named a vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup.
The former University of Arizona standout joins Steve Stricker and Davis Love III as vice captains on Zach Johnson’s squad headed to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy. The PGA of America stated there will be more vice captains for 2023 named at a later date.
The biennial competition between the US and Europe is set for Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
“Jim and I have been friends for more than 20 years,” Johnson said in a statement released Monday. “He’s an amazing leader, mentor and someone I trust. He understands what it takes to compete at the highest level, and how to be a team player. I will be leaning on his experience a ton in the lead up to Marco Simone in September.”
Furyk was the US team’s Ryder Cup captain in 2018 in France and a vice captain in 2016 at Hazeltine National Golf Club as well as in 2020 at Whistling Straits.
Prior to sliding into leadership roles, Furyk competed in nine straight Ryder Cups: 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014.
“I’ve been involved in the Ryder Cup since 1997, and my passion for this event is unmatched,” Furyk said in the same statement. “Captain Zach Johnson shares that passion, and I can’t wait to get to Italy to help our US Team work towards retaining the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone.”
Sorenstam to play US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach
Annika Sorenstam isn’t done with major championship golf just yet. The 10-time major winner and former Arizona Wildcat accepted a special exemption into the 2023 US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach, July 6-9.
Sorenstam, 52, played her way into last year’s Women’s Open by crushing the field by eight strokes at the 2021 US Senior Women’s Open.
This marks the first time Sorenstam, who is one of four players to win the US Women’s Open three times (1995, 1996, 2006), has accepted an exemption into the championship. She has made 16 previous appearances.
Jon Rahm honored at Suns-Nuggets game
Maybe he was the good luck charm they needed. The Phoenix Suns hosted 2023 Masters champion and former Arizona State standout Jon Rahm for Game 3 of their NBA playoff series against the Denver Nuggets last Saturday.
The Suns Gorilla wore a white Masters caddy suit with “Rahm” on the nameplate across his back. The Gorilla also presented Rahm with a set of plastic kids golf clubs. The Suns went on to win Game 3 with Rahm sitting courtside.
GCU women make ‘NIT of college golf’
The Grand Canyon women’s golf team won the WAC title for the first time in school history this season. Next up, an appearance in the inaugural National Golf Invitational, a new postseason collegiate event scheduled May 11-14 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa.
Dubbed the NIT of college golf and presented in partnership with Golfweek, the 2023 Women’s NGI will feature 10 college teams competing in a 54-hole stroke-play tournament. Joining GCU are Penn State, Mercer, Western Carolina, Iowa, Texas State, Santa Clara, UC Riverside, Middle Tennessee and fellow WAC member Seattle.
There will be a men’s NGI as well, also at Ak-Chin, following the women’s event.
Junior event accepting entries
The 2023 Golfweek Southwest Junior Open is accepting entries for the tournament later this month. The event is for boys and girls junior golfers ages 13 to 19 who are not yet attending college. The tournament will be held May 27-28 at Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa. The top finishers in each division will be exempt into the USA Today Sports/Golfweek International Junior Invitational to be held in November in Florida. Information: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jim Furyk named a 2023 Ryder Cup vice captain for US squad