With an eye on ending a decades-long drought on foreign soil, the U.S. Ryder Cup team is making big changes behind the scenes. Captain Jim Furyk has overhauled the squad’s analytics department, bringing in fresh talent to sharpen the team’s competitive edge ahead of the 2027 event in Ireland.
According to a report from Golfweek’s Adam Schupak, Furyk tapped Justin Ray and Hunter Stewart to lead a revamped data team. The duo replaces Scouts Consulting Group, the firm that helped power U.S. victories in the 2016 Ryder Cup and 2022 Presidents Cup but was dismissed after the team’s recent struggles.
“I really want to make it clear that I’m a big fan of Jason Aquino. He’s very talented, and I learned a lot from Jason and consider us friends even now,” Furyk said. “That conversation was difficult in some respects but ultimately I felt like we had an opportunity and I had to make the best decision for the United States team.”
Justin Ray is a familiar name to golf fans. The Athletic writer previously worked for ESPN, Golf Channel, and Golfweek, and he also contributed to Twenty First Group, the analytics firm Europe used when it won the 2018 Ryder Cup. U.S. vice captain Justin Leonard recommended Ray to Furyk, who described the stat guru as “our big picture guy.” Ray responded to the news on social media, writing, “Honored. Thankful. Already hard at work.”
Hunter Stewart brings a different kind of experience. The former Vanderbilt standout competed in 11 PGA Tour events, with a best finish of T-10 at the 2015 OHL Classic at Mayakoba. He now supplies advanced stats to several pros, helping them gain an edge. Stewart will also consult for U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker later this year, as the team prepares for that event.
Schupak noted that Furyk hopes Stewart’s hire can give the U.S. the same kind of spark that Edoardo Molinari provided for Europe. The three-time DP World Tour champion crafted data strategies that fueled Europe’s victories in 2023 and 2025. The U.S. is eager to replicate that success after a bitter defeat at Bethpage Black in 2025.
The U.S. hasn’t won a Ryder Cup on foreign soil since 1993. The 2027 event, set for Ireland, presents a golden opportunity to break that streak. Furyk’s analytics overhaul signals that Team USA is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to bring the Cup back across the Atlantic.
