Zach Johnson seeks camaraderie, chemistry for U.S. Ryder Cup team

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson nonetheless has greater than three months to determine which gamers will probably be amongst his six captain’s decisions for the matches outdoors Rome in September, however he has a reasonably good thought of what he is in search of.

The highest six gamers within the Ryder Cup factors standings after the BMW Championship on Aug. 17-20 will mechanically qualify for the U.S. squad. The group will probably be introduced the next week after the season-ending Tour Championship.

The People will attempt to finish a 30-year drought on European soil on the Ryder Cup, which is scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Marco Simone Golf and Nation Membership outdoors Rome.

“I need camaraderie and chemistry within the group room,” Johnson stated throughout a information convention on the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Nation Membership on Wednesday. “I need possession by the group. I feel it most likely holds extra true over there than over right here. I need horses for programs. I need guys that may navigate Marco Simone in September, and caddies as a result of it is a hilly gem. There’s quite a few components.”

Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay are at the moment within the high six in factors.

Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Will Zalatoris spherical out the highest 10 in factors, however Zalatoris will miss the remainder of the season after present process again surgical procedure and will not play within the Ryder Cup. Tony Finau, who’s thirteenth in factors, might be enjoying his approach onto the group after successful 4 occasions on the PGA Tour since July.

Wyndham Clark, Kurt Kitayama, Chris Kirk, Harris English, Sahith Theegala, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler and others additionally may play their approach into consideration.

Johnson was requested particularly about Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, who left the PGA Tour to play within the LIV Golf League. Zach Johnson stated it was troublesome to evaluate their type as a result of he hasn’t seen them play a lot in particular person.

“I do not journey wherever however the PGA Tour and the majors,” Zach Johnson stated. “I do not know. I have not actually gotten all the way down to the stats and crunching of information and that type of factor, so it is probably not honest for me to say that is the one measurement. However I’m within the golf circles. I do know what is going on on. I am not oblivious to issues. The way in which I see it’s each man that wishes to make the U.S. Ryder Cup group ought to attempt to make the highest six. Nevertheless that appears, you have to play good and earn your approach onto that group.”

Dustin Johnson, who’s thirty seventh within the U.S. group factors standings, went 5-0 within the People’ historic 19-9 rout of the Europeans on the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

A two-time main champion with 24 profession victories on the PGA Tour, Johnson was LIV Golf’s particular person champion in its inaugural season in 2022. He additionally picked up his first victory of 2023 in final week’s LIV Golf event in Damaged Arrow, Oklahoma. He tied for forty eighth on the Masters.

“Actually troublesome for me to guage that,” Zach Johnson stated of Dustin Johnson’s probabilities. “Once more, I do not know the golf programs they’re enjoying. By no means seen them. I am not there on foot in particular person. You are speaking about a person whose résumé is extraordinarily deep and huge. He is definitely in my technology the most effective gamers I’ve ever competed towards, however it’s not honest for me to guess his true type or anyone’s true type that I am unable to witness.”

Dustin Johnson stated he needs to play within the Ryder Cup, regardless of the continuing feud between the LIV Golf League and the PGA Tour.

“I do not know if I would get picked,” he stated. “Clearly, if I proceed to play very well for the remainder of the 12 months, then clearly there’s an opportunity. Sure, I might positively prefer to play within the Ryder Cup. It is one among my favourite occasions to play in, particularly after the final Ryder Cup. Clearly had a reasonably good week. And, yeah, it is simply an superior occasion; and yeah, I would like to be part of it.”

Koepka, who was suffering from a knee damage for a lot of the previous two seasons, tied for second on the Masters, 4 strokes behind winner Jon Rahm. Koepka has a 6-5-1 file on three U.S. Ryder Cup groups.

“I have not actually seen the place he is at since Augusta,” Zach Johnson stated. “He performed actually good that one week, however it’s one week. I do not need to sit right here and say that it is concrete, it is the one factor we will be taking a look at. It is one week, at a serious venue, on the Masters event. He performed nice. However there’s nonetheless a number of golf between from time to time.”

The U.S. group captain did say Wednesday that the PGA of America has given him permission to take his group on a scouting journey to Marco Simone Golf and Nation Membership in mid-August. Johnson stated he has instructed potential group members that making the journey will probably be a precedence.

“I am taking the 12 guys that make my group to Rome 2½ weeks previous to the occasion, in order that approach they get their toes on the grounds, expertise Marco Simone firsthand,” Johnson stated. “Then after we depart and are available again house for 2 weeks, they will have at the very least, I feel, a reasonably sensible expectation as to what’s required. I feel it helps. I feel that journey proper there’s going to be essential.”