US Ryder Cup Team Faces Tough Decisions as Talent Pool Deepens

Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson finds himself facing a challenging task with an increasingly loaded pool of candidates for the U.S. team. The emergence of new contenders has added to the complexity of his selection process, making his job even more difficult.

Brooks Koepka and the controversies surrounding LIV Golf are no longer the sole focus of attention. Johnson recognizes that there is still a significant amount of golf to be played before the Ryder Cup. During an interview in May at the PGA Championship, he acknowledged this fact, just hours before Koepka’s impressive victory at Oak Hill, which helped reestablish his reputation as a formidable competitor.

In the intervening weeks, other players have made strong cases for their inclusion in the team. Wyndham Clark’s impressive performance at the U.S. Open, where he outplayed Rory McIlroy, combined with his earlier victory at the Wells Fargo Championship, has propelled him to the second spot in the Ryder Cup standings. Clark’s debut in Rome seems almost assured at this point.

Additionally, Keegan Bradley, fueled by the pressure of playing before a home crowd in New England, triumphed at the Travelers Championship, marking his second win of the year. His jubilant celebration on the 18th green reminded fans of his memorable Ryder Cup debut in 2012. Bradley’s strong showing elevated him to the seventh spot in the standings.

Bradley’s previous Ryder Cup experience dates back to 2014, where he endured a disappointing outing in Scotland under Captain Tom Watson. Bradley’s desire to participate in another Ryder Cup is evident, as he expressed to his wife after signing his scorecard at the Travelers Championship. Despite the abundance of talent and fierce competition from younger players, Bradley, 37, aims to contribute to the incredible team and hopes to secure his spot for Rome.

The 2021 Ryder Cup team, which delivered Europe its worst-ever defeat, witnessed the departure of three players to LIV Golf. As the selection process for the upcoming tournament unfolds, potential newcomers like Max Homa, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, and Sam Burns have emerged as contenders. Burns, who narrowly missed making the last Ryder Cup team, has shown tremendous potential.

The core of the 2021 team comprised multiple major champions such as Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Collin Morikawa, although none of them have secured a victory in the past year.

The Ryder Cup matches are set to begin in Rome on September 29. The leading six players based on the BMW Championship standings will automatically qualify for the team. Additionally, Johnson plans to consult these six players and his assistant captains to determine the remaining six wild-card picks, aiming to foster a sense of ownership among the team members.

With eight weeks remaining until the end of the qualifying period, including the British Open and the FedEx Cup playoffs, the top players will have limited opportunities to improve their standing. Currently, the leading six players in the Ryder Cup standings are Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, and Max Homa.

Following closely behind are Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth, Cameron Young, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, and Collin Morikawa. However, there is still much to be determined.

Noteworthy contenders like Rickie Fowler and Tony Finau, who boasts two wins this season and has represented the U.S. in the last four Ryder Cups, are also part of the conversation.

Dustin Johnson’s chances of qualifying are slim, although a victory at the final major of the year, the British Open, could change his fortunes. The last time an American major winner was left off the Ryder Cup team was Todd Hamilton in 2004.

Historically, the American team has witnessed significant turnover between Ryder Cup events. After their resounding victory over Europe at Hazeltine in 2016, only six players returned for the subsequent tournament in France (which ended in another loss).

Similarly, five players from the dominant team at Whistling Straits in the Ryder Cup failed to make the subsequent Presidents Cup team, with three opting for LIV Golf and two sidelined due to injuries (Harris English and Daniel Berger).

Given the unpredictable nature of golf over the past few months, Zach Johnson faces an uncertain two months leading up to the Ryder Cup. With only six automatic qualifiers and twelve spots to fill, tough decisions are inevitable. Johnson accepted the challenge aware that not everyone will secure a seat when the music stops.

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More about Ryder Cup team

• Ryder Cup: https://www.rydercup.com/
• PGA Championship: https://www.pgachampionship.com/
• U.S. Open: https://www.usopen.com/
• Wells Fargo Championship: https://www.wellsfargochampionship.com/
• Travelers Championship: https://www.travelerschampionship.com/
• LIV Golf: https://www.livgolf.com/
• Whistling Straits: https://www.destinationkohler.com/golf/whistling-straits
• PGA Tour: https://www.pgatour.com/