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2023 Ryder Cup: The six Captain’s Picks for Team USA

Zach Johnson chooses his Team USA Captain's Picks for the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Zach Johnson chooses his Team USA Captain's Picks for the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

Zach Johnson has selected his wildcards for the 2023 Ryder Cup. Following the conclusion of the Tour Championship, the Team USA captain has six captain’s picks with which to complete his squad for the continental competition in Rome. In addition to season performance, current form, Ryder Cup experience and input from players who have already qualified will play a role in the selection process, among other factors.

Ryder Cup 2023: The six wildcards for Team USA

The following players will attempt to defend the American title at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club:

  • Sam Burns
  • Rickie Fowler
  • Brooks Koepka
  • Collin Morikawa
  • Jordan Spieth
  • Justin Thomas

Johnson explains his selection by the versatility of the players and how those choices give him a lot of flexibility in creating the pairings. “They fit well with Marco Simone, but they also fit well with each other,” he also alludes to the team aspect of his team composition.

With three rookies and three players with just one Ryder Cup on their resume already on the team via qualifying, Johnson opted for five experienced Ryder Cup players and another rookie in Sam Burns, but a match-play champion who should be a secret weapon for the team. Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth both have five Ryder Cup appearances to their credit. Spieth has been an integral part of the continental competition since 2014 and Johnson emphasizes his performance on and around the green, which should serve him well in the Marco Simone. Rickie Fowler returns to the Ryder Cup after 2018 and, in addition to his playing performance, will be an important element in the team room for the captain.

Brooks Koepka was also an obvious choice for the American captain with his win at the PGA Championship and runner-up finish at the Masters: “He’s made for the big stage and there’s no bigger bean than the Ryder Cup.”

Zach Johnson: “You just don’t leave JT at home.”

What may be controversial is the appointment of Justin Thomas to the team, who did not play his best season and even missed the PGA Tour Playoffs. But according to Johnson, “You just don’t leave JT at home.” “His passion for the Ryder Cup is obvious,” the captain said. “In my opinion, he was born for it.” Thomas will definitely have to prove himself on the course.

Already firmly qualified were world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark, Open Championship winner Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele. The Ryder Cup will be played a month from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.

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Ryder Cup Qualification: Half of the US team is in position

The qualification process for the US Ryder Cup Team concluded with the BMW Championship. (Credit: Getty)

Half of the USA’s team for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome is in place. The BMW Championship, the second of the three tournaments in the final series of the PGA Tour, also marked the end of qualifying for the continental duel between Europe and the USA. In addition to world number one Scottie Scheffler and US Open winner Wyndham Clark, who already could not be ousted from their places, the four other qualifiers are now also clear.

Patrick Cantlay, Open Championship winner Brian Harman, Max Homa and Olympic champion Xander Schauffele will also be part of the team. Three of the six qualifiers will make their Ryder Cup debut at Marco Simone Country Club. After the Tour Championship on 29 August, captain Zach Johnson will announce his six captain’s picks to complete Team USA.


While Cantlay, Scheffler and Schauffele were already part of the victorious Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits, Harman, Homa and Clark will be there for the first time. However, the three first-named have each only taken part in the 43rd continental comparison, which did not take place until 2021 (actually planned for 2020) due to the Corona pandemic.

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Professionals

José María Olazábal vice captain for the Ryder Cup 2023

Olazábal is a vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup (foto:european tour)
Olazábal is a vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup (foto:european tour)

The 57-year-old Spaniard is synonymous with the biennial contest against the United States, having played for Europe on seven occasions from 1987 to 2006; been a Vice Captain on three further occasions, in 2008, 2010 and 2014; and, of course, was Captain for the most famous European comeback victory of all time at Medinah in 2012.
 
In his seven Ryder Cup appearances as a player, which yielded three wins and a tie in 1989 which saw Europe retain the trophy, Olazábal played 31 times, winning 18 of those matches and returning 20½ points in total for the European cause. His partnership with the late, great Seve Ballesteros still stands head and shoulders above any other pairing in the contest’s history, the Spanish duo winning 12 points from their 15 outings together.

Olázabal is looking back on a long and successful career

Outside of the Ryder Cup arena, Olazábal has notched up 33 professional wins worldwide in a storied career, including 23 on the European Tour from 1986 to 2005. But he is best remembered for his two Masters triumphs at Augusta National – in 1994 and 1999 – the second being especially emotional as it came in the wake of fears that rheumatoid arthritis might mean he would never play professionally again.
 
Olazábal joins the successful European Ryder Cup Captain of 2018, Denmark’s Thomas Bjørn, in Luke Donald’s backroom team, alongside Italian Edoardo Molinari, a winner with Team Europe in 2010, and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, a member of Olazábal’s winning Medinah team alongside Donald in 2012.

Olazábal: “It was a very nice surprise to be asked by Luke.”

 “With my previous experiences in the Ryder Cup I am obviously thrilled to be back involved once again. I am really looking forward to feeling that special adrenaline flow, the intensity and the electricity that only the Ryder Cup can bring – I’m really excited to be part of it all again.
 
“It was a very nice surprise to be asked by Luke. I didn’t expect it but I was delighted when the call came. My role will be the same as the rest of the Vice Captains, namely to support and help Luke and the 12 players in any way we can, so they can perform at their best and be able to win that trophy back.
 
“I have no doubts that Luke will be a great Captain. He has played in the Ryder Cup four times and won four times and he therefore knows what is required to perform well in the match.
 
“He is great on detail and how important things like team spirit are. On top of all of that, he is still very much a competitive player playing at a high level. Because of that he is close to the players and he knows what they will need to perform to their best. My job as Vice-Captain will be to help him achieve that.”

Luke Donald: “Just his mere presence brings energy.”

“When you think of José María Olázabal, you immediately think of the Ryder Cup. He brings amazing passion and I couldn’t be more excited to have him on board.
 
“He was my Captain when I last played in the Ryder Cup – at Medinah in 2012 – and I thoroughly enjoyed playing for him that year. He picked me to play number one in the singles and that was hugely gratifying.
 
“To know he had that respect and confidence in me to go out and lead Europe in such a pressurised last day environment meant a lot and this feels, perhaps, that I am returning that favour a little bit, as I have a huge amount of confidence in him.
 
“Just his mere presence brings energy to any Ryder Cup environment and I saw that first hand when I asked him to be involved in the Hero Cup we staged in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of this year.
 
“He was such a big part of that week, being with the players and sharing stories with them of just what the Ryder Cup is all about. People notice when José María walks into a room and you could see at the Hero Cup how much everyone respected him and admired him for all he’s done in the game. I could not be more excited to have him on my team.”

Text: European Tour Group Communications

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Panorama

Captains Donald and Johnson take the Ryder Cup to the Colosseum

Luke Donald and Zach Johnson in front of the Colosseum. (Foto: Getty)
Luke Donald and Zach Johnson in front of the Colosseum. (Foto: Getty)

The two captains chipped shots from a specifically built platform to a Ryder Cup green located in Tempio di Venere Roma (Temple of Venus and Roma), in the shadow of the world-famous Colosseum.

European Captain Donald and United States Captain Johnson are in Rome to mark 12 months until Italy hosts its first Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, from September 26 to October 1, 2023.

The pair took the famous Ryder Cup trophy into the heart of Rome to the Colosseum, one of the city’s most historic sights which attracts millions of tourists each year.

Built in the 1st Century AD, the stone amphitheatre was a gathering place during the Roman Empire, with a capacity of around 50,000 people.

Captain Donald said: “The Colosseum is iconic when it comes to Rome, built back in 80 A.D., I was reading up about it. It is still the biggest amphitheatre ever be to built. It’s amazing they were able to do such amazing things back so many years ago.

“So to have that as a backdrop was a great showcase for Italy and a great showcase for Rome.”

Captain Johnson said: “It was an unbelievable morning and to share it with Luke and Diane and my wife was special. I mean, it’s almost surreal. The backdrop of the Colosseum, the Temple of Venus, it’s something that you just kind of pinch yourself. It was very spectacular, and I appreciate that opportunity, so thank you.”

The Captains’ visit to the Colosseum and Tempio di Venere Roma marked the second day of the Year To Go Celebrations, and the pair also hosted their first joint press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Yesterday, Donald and Johnson were joined by 12 members of the Federazione Italiana Golf’s (FIG) Elite National Under 18 team – six boys and six girls aged 15-18 – and four members of the Elite Disabled team for the four-hole Captains’ Challenge match over the first, 16th, 17th and 18th holes at Marco Simone.

Approximately 300 local school children watched the event, which fittingly ended in a tie, with the two teams sharing the trophy.

On Monday evening, the two Captains joined 200 guests at the Official Gala Dinner which took place at the spectacular Palazzo Colonna.

Marco Simone will host the 2023 Ryder Cup from September 26 to October 1, 2023, when Europe will try to regain the Ryder Cup following defeat at Whistling Straits last year.

(Text: Ryder Cup)

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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup legends and rising stars set for Betfred British Masters

Participants of the Betfred British Masters (Photo DP World Tour)
Participants of the Betfred British Masters (Photo: DP World Tour)

Ryder Cup legends Thomas Bjørn and Lee Westwood will return to the scene of one of their most famous Ryder Cup victories when they tee it up alongside three of Europe’s biggest rising stars in May’s Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry.

The duo were members of Sam Torrance’s side which famously won back the 2002 Ryder Cup on a 15½ – 12½ scoreline and started Europe’s undefeated streak on home soil, a record which was continued under Bjørn’s captaincy at Le Golf National four years ago.

Westwood’s history…

Westwood racked up three points in front of his home fans 20 years ago at the Warwickshire venue, forming a strong partnership with Sergio Garcia. Five years later, the former World Number One claimed his maiden British Masters title at The Belfry with a five-stroke victory on the Brabazon Course. He went on to host the tournament at Close House in 2017 and 2020, becoming the first player to do so on two occasions – an honour which Willett will match this year after he took on the role for the first time in 2021.

…and Bjørn’s as well

Bjørn, who claimed a crucial point in the Sunday Singles in 2002 by beating Stewart Cink 2&1, is also a former winner of the British Masters, securing his eighth of 15 victories on Tour in 2005 when it was held at Forest of Arden.

Who else is participating?

The two DP World Tour legends join Betfred British Masters host Danny Willett and defending champion Richard Bland in the field, as well as three of the DP World Tour’s most promising rising stars.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre will hope to keep up his run of strong performances at the British Masters, following on from a runner-up finish in 2019 and a tied eighth result at last year’s tournament.

Danish representatives at the Ryder Cup

History-making twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, who are aiming to follow in Bjørn’s footsteps as Danish representatives at the Ryder Cup, will also tee it up at The Belfry in May, with Rasmus returning to the venue where he won his second DP World Tour title – the ISPS Handa UK Championship. The victory was the second win in his 2019 rookie season.

The pair became the first brothers to win back-to-back events as Rasmus won the Omega European Masters the week before Nicolai earned a maiden DP World Tour title at the DS Automobiles Italian Open. Nicolai returned to the winner’s circle earlier this year at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital. The Højgaard twins have won five times in 110 starts between them.

Tickets and Premium Experiences for the Betfred British Masters

Tickets are available to watch Richard Bland, Danny Willett and a host of DP World Tour stars return to The Belfry for this year’s Betfred British Masters from May 5-8. Click here to purchase.

Premium experiences are also available at the tournament with options in the Ryder Suite and Wishaw Suite. The Ryder Suite was home of the European Team Room at the 2001 Ryder Cup, while the Wishaw Suite is in close proximity to the famous tenth and 18th holes of the Brabazon Course, offering sweeping views across the impressive golf course and estate. Click here to view Premium Experiences.

(Text: DP World Tour)

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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Players and fans are excited for “The Iceman”

Ryder Cup 2023: Henrik Stenson will lead Team Europe. (Photo: Getty)
Ryder Cup 2023: Henrik Stenson will lead Team Europe. (Photo: Getty)

It was announced on Tuesday that Henrik Stenson will lead his fellow Europeans into the 2023 Ryder Cup as captain. The Swede will send Europe’s best golfers into the race against the Americans led by Zach Johnson at the Marco Simone Golf Club in Italy. On the web, many fans and (former) players are reacting delightedly to this news, but others also see the decision critically.

Ryder Cup 2023: Henrik Stenson European Captain in Rome

Ryder Cup 2023: Excitement for the “Iceman”

Sir Nick Faldo, who captained Team Europe at the 2008 Ryder Cup, describes Henrik Stenson as a “great guy”, but points out that he has a “really tough job” ahead of him. “Half the team will probably be the old school, the backbone with maybe six unknown-ish rookies.” Faldo wishes him and the team the best of luck against the seemingly overpowering Americans.

Another former team captain, Thomas Bjørn, also congratulates the 45-year-old on his nomination. “Time to get behind “The Iceman”,” the 2018 captain encourages the new skipper.

Paul Lawrie, 1999 Open champion and winner part of the victorious 2012 team at Medinah, was also considered a candidate for the captaincy. The Scot sends his congratulations to Henrik Stenson and the team.

Colin Montgomerie can look back on many years of Ryder Cup experience and also congratulates.

Other players also react to the announcement of their new captain. Ross Fisher, 2010 Ryder Cup winner, writes: “I know you will be a great captain for the lucky 12 boys in Rome.”

Jon Rahm and Justin Rose also react to the announcement on Twitter.

Ian Poulter congratulated with this funny video:

Fans’ reactions about Henrik Stenson

For many fans the choice of captain is the right one, Henrik Stenson has a “very likeable and charismatic character,” this tweet says, but: “The Americans will be hard to stop in Rome with the talent at their disposal.”

Other fans and also journalists are looking forward to the prankster Stenson in particular. “As captain You are allowed to prank players extra,” this fan says excitedly.

Rex Hoggard says “the Swede’s press conferences will be can’t-miss.”

But there are also dissenting voices. This fan sees Henrik Stenson as “not a leader of men” and congratulates the Americans prematurely on their victory.

This is contrasted by other opinions.

Whether Henrik Stenson was the “right” choice will only become clear next year when the matches are played at the Marco Simone Golf Club. In any case, Team USA is facing “a worthy opponent”.