LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka was among US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson’s six picks for the biennial match play showdown with Europe introduced on Tuesday.
Koepka grabbed his fifth main title on the PGA Championship this yr, simply weeks after a runner-up end on the Masters.
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He is a three-time Ryder Cup participant, however his inclusion comes after LIV Golf roiled the golf world and with European gamers who jumped to the Saudi Arabia-backed league banned from Ryder Cup participation.
US gamers remained eligible as a result of despite the fact that they had been suspended by the PGA Tour they remained members of the PGA of America.
Tensions between the established excursions and LIV Golf rebels have eased considerably for the reason that announcement that the PGA Tour and DP World Tour agreed a deal to merge with LIV’s Saudi backers.
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Johnson stated Koepka had “basically earned his way onto the team”, despite the fact that taking part in LIV Golf occasions with out world rating factors had seen him slide out of the automated qualifying berths.
“It was a pretty easy pick,” Johnson stated.
“Brooks is great in the team room, great inside the ropes. These guys wanted him. I wanted him.”
“He’s built, in my mind, for the biggest stages, and there’s no bigger stage than the Ryder Cup,” Johnson added of Koepka, who has by no means misplaced a singles match in Ryder Cup competitors.
Brooks Koepka had knee surgical procedure in 2021
Koepka stated he was “super-excited” to be again on the Ryder Cup team after grinding his approach again after 2021 knee surgical procedure.
“The last few years have been a lot, but at the same time, that’s what I’ve been grinding for, trying to get back in shape and to feel good for this moment,” he stated.
“Super excited. It’s going to be a fun week.”
Johnson’s different captain’s choices had been Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Sam Burns and Justin Thomas.
Thomas could possibly be Johnson’s most controversial choice.
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The two-time main winner has struggled this season, ending 71st within the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings and lacking the playoffs.
He missed the lower in three of 4 main championships.
But Thomas has been a strong performer in worldwide match play competitors. In two Ryder Cup appearances he has a 6-2-1 file.
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Thomas, 30, has been one of many Americans’ finest performers in worldwide match-play competitions. He additionally has a 10-3-2 mark in three Presidents Cups.
“He has, without question, been the heart and soul of Team USA,” Johnson stated of Thomas.
“Our emotional leader. He leads by example. His passion for the Ryder Cup is very evident. In my mind, he was born for this, and you just don’t leave JT at home.”
Fierce opponents
Johnson stated his goal in making the choices was to enrich the six automated qualifiers – world primary Scottie Scheffler, US Open winner Wyndham Clark, British Open champion Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele.
“They check all the boxes,” Johnson stated.
“Fierce opponents, nice versatility, nice flexibility in relation to pairings.
“Got some great experience in there, too, considering we are going across the pond, no easy feat.”
The Ryder Cup will happen in Rome from September 29 till October 1.
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The United States will probably be making an attempt to retain the trophy that they gained in a crushing 19-9 triumph at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in 2021.
The Americans lead the all-time sequence 27-14 however haven’t gained the Cup on overseas soil since 1993.
“We know the history,” stated Morikawa, who gained three team matches alongside Dustin Johnson within the Americans’ 2021 victory.
“That’s all in the past. We want to create new memories and history for the US side.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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