Jim Furyk sends Patrick Reed clear Ryder Cup message after infamous 2018 fallout

Jim Furyk has opened the door to a remarkable Patrick Reed return to the United States Ryder Cup team, insisting he is prepared to put their bitter 2018 fallout behind them if the 2018 Masters champion proves worthy of a place at Adare Manor next year.

With exactly 12 months to go until the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland, Furyk has made it clear that past disagreements will not stand in the way of selecting his strongest possible team.

Reed has not represented the United States in the Ryder Cup since the infamous defeat to Europe at Le Golf National in 2018, when his relationship with then-captain Furyk deteriorated dramatically.

But with the 36-year-old now back playing outside the LIV Golf environment and enjoying a resurgence on the DP World Tour, his name could once again become part of the Ryder Cup conversation.

And Furyk appears ready to welcome him back.

"We are going to put the best 12 guys on this team and if Patrick Reed is one of those, that's great," Furyk told Telegraph Sport.

"It's been a long time since he's been in our team room and, yeah, you know, Patrick and I will have that conversation.

"I'm looking forward to welcoming our best team of 12."

Those comments represent a significant change in tone from the aftermath of the 2018 Ryder Cup, when Reed publicly criticised Furyk's captaincy following the United States' emphatic 17½-10½ defeat at the hands of Thomas Bjorn's Europe. 

Reed had partnered Tiger Woods in both Friday and Saturday fourballs, losing both matches, before being left out of the two foursomes sessions.

The decision clearly infuriated the then-27-year-old, who questioned why a player with his Ryder Cup record had been left on the bench.

"For somebody as successful in the Ryder Cup as I am, I don't think it's smart to sit me twice," Reed said at the time.

He also accused Furyk of operating a "buddy system" and claimed he had been "blindsided" by the decision to pair him with Woods.

Reed had wanted to revive his successful Ryder Cup partnership with Jordan Spieth, but Spieth instead played alongside Justin Thomas.

The subsequent fallout effectively marked the end of Reed's involvement in the U.S. team.

He played in the 2019 Presidents Cup but has not featured in either of the Ryder Cups since, while his decision to join LIV Golf in 2022 further distanced him from the traditional U.S. team structure.

Now, however, the landscape has changed.

Reed left LIV Golf at the start of 2026 and has wasted little time rebuilding his position in the wider game.

He currently leads the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai standings, holding a lead of more than 300 points over Rory McIlroy with the season entering its final stages.

That has given Reed a realistic chance of becoming only the second American to win the European circuit's season-long title.

More importantly for his Ryder Cup ambitions, it has demonstrated that he remains capable of competing at the highest level.

His immediate objective is the Race to Dubai, but the bigger prize could come 12 months from now in Ireland.

Reed has also now served his 12-month suspension on the PGA Tour, so will be able to return to his former circuit in 2027. That is something that should further aid his cause of making a fourth Ryder Cup side. 

Reed has never been short of confidence in Ryder Cup competition and earned the nickname 'Captain America' during his previous appearances for the United States.

He has played in three Ryder Cups and owns an impressive overall record of 7-3-2, although his 2018 campaign ended in frustration after losing both of his fourballs matches alongside Woods.

Furyk, meanwhile, has been handed a second opportunity to captain the Americans after his first experience ended in one of the heaviest defeats in recent Ryder Cup history.

His appointment for 2027 came as something of a surprise given those memories, but the 56-year-old has already made it clear that preparation will be at the heart of his plans.

He wants his players to spend considerably more time preparing for the foursomes format, an area in which the Americans have struggled in recent years.

Furyk is also encouraging his prospective players to visit Adare Manor before the Ryder Cup, with a reconnaissance trip expected around the Scottish Open and The Open Championship in July.

"To absolutely be here at Adare Manor next summer would be first and foremost," Furyk said.

"We have guys coming over for both the Scottish and The Open Championship and the ask will be out there and I expect everyone to make their best effort to be here."

Furyk believes seeing the course and understanding its demands will be crucial if the Americans are to end a remarkable run of failure on European soil.

The United States have not won an away Ryder Cup since their victory at The Belfry in 1993.

Europe, meanwhile, will be attempting to create history.

Luke Donald is set to captain the European side for a third successive time and is bidding to become the first captain in the contest's 100-year history to win three consecutive Ryder Cups.

Donald is refusing to accept Furyk's suggestion that Europe will start as favourites simply because Adare Manor is on home soil.

"For us, underdog is a mentality," Donald said.

"We always want to prove something to ourselves, to the rest of the world. Yeah, we understand that being at home is an advantage, but we also know that the U.S. are very, very strong and there will be absolutely no complacency as far as we are concerned."

The Americans will arrive in Ireland with confidence boosted by their recent Presidents Cup success.

Brandt Snedeker's side recovered from three points down heading into the final day at Medinah to defeat Geoff Ogilvy's Internationals 17-13, completing a remarkable comeback in the 12 singles matches.

For Furyk, though, the focus is already shifting towards Adare Manor.

And if Reed can maintain his current form, the former Masters champion may yet find himself back inside the U.S. team room — with his old captain waiting to put their differences aside.

"We are going to put the best 12 guys on this team," Furyk said.

For Reed, those words could prove to be the biggest Ryder Cup invitation of all.