Ryder Cup 2023, Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome, Italy: 25 Sept - 1 October
The US Ryder Cup team is complete, as Zach Johnson announces his captain's picks
In late September the Ryder Cup teams head to Italy. The last time a US team won in Europe was in 1993. Now the 2023 team appears to be united by a shared determination to change that, and to again bring the cup back to US shores.
Automatic qualifiers:
Patrick Cantlay, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler
Captain's picks:
Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Speith, Collin Morikawa, Sam Burns and Rickie Fowler
Collin Morikawa is described by Johnson as "A ball-striking machine", "Consistent", and "A very strong fit for the Ryder Cup."
Justin Thomas has twice won the PGA Championship, and in his rookie year he "Contributed more points to the US Team than any other player". This year has not all been easy for him, and he did not quite make it through to the FedEx Cup play-offs.
Johnson, however, names him as "One of the most talented players on the PGA TOUR", "He has, without question, been the heart and soul of Team USA", and "He just leads by example". He has "Overall a fantastic Ryder Cup record".
Brooks Koepka and other LIV Golfers were under some uncertainty ahead of the tournament. European players who 'jumped ship' to LIV are banned from Ryder Cup participation. However US players remained members of the PGA of America, though suspended by the PGA TOUR. Tuesday's captain's call to include Koepka has ended the doubt.
Koepka won the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in May and is a "Five time major champion and three time PGA Champion." He was runner up at this year's Masters, and is a three-time Ryder Cup player.
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