Funk Ready for First Ryder Cup Appearance
9/15/2004 8:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 15, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Fred Funk, a 1980 graduate of the University of Maryland, will represent the United States this weekend at the Ryder Cup Matches, to be played Friday through Sunday in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
This will be the first time in his storied career that the Terrapin alumnus will be playing in the prestigious Ryder Cup event. The 48-year-old Funk qualified for the U.S. team in mid-August.
Funk is also a former coach of the University of Maryland men's golf team, having directed the program from 1982 through 1988 before joining the PGA Tour in 1989.
At 48, Funk is believed to be the second-oldest American player in history to have made the team. Raymond Floyd was 51 when he played on the 1993 Ryder Cup team.
The U.S. lost the Cup in 2002, dropping a 15-12 decision to the Europeans. Europe has won the Cup in three of the last four matches, with the exception being in 1999 - the last time the Ryder Cup matches were held in the U.S.
The 2004 matches are being held at the prestigious Oakland Hills Country Club. Veteran player Hal Sutton is the captain of the U.S. team.
The matches will be shown on USA Network on Friday, Sept. 17 (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.), and on NBC on Saturday, Sept. 18 (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.) and on Sunday, Sept. 19 (noon - 6 p.m.).
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