Zach Johnson Faces Tough Choices for U.S. Ryder Cup Team

The current U.S. Ryder Cup standings are muddled, and several top players are struggling. Zach Johnson has an interesting two months in front of him.

Zach Johnson, the U.S. Ryder Cup team captain, said he wants his decisions on who to pick for his team to be hard rather than easy. Presumably, he meant because so many guys are playing well that the decision is tough.

“I would prefer that my decision is really difficult,’’ said the 2015 Open champion at Royal Liverpool. “That means the guys are in a good state and in good form, which is really ultimately what’s important.’’

And yet his decisions might come down to picking some players who are out of form.

More from the British Open edition of the Weekly Read: Zach Johnson's Ryder Cup Dilemma | PGA Tour-LIV Drama Set to Resume | FedEx Cup Countdown | Fore! Things

Case in point: Justin Thomas and Tony Finau. You’d have had no reason to think at the start of the 2023 that these guys would not be a lock. You perhaps can throw Collin Morikawa into that mix as well.

Thomas has spent the past six years as one of the top players in the world. He’s played in the team competitions since 2017, was one of the few bright spots for the Americans in ’18 in France and figured to be a set-in-stone partner with Jordan Spieth this year.

But he’s missed the cut in three majors, shot in the 80s twice and isn’t yet qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs. He’s added this week’s 3M Open to try and make up some ground.

Finau has also been part of several teams, has experience and has won four times in the past 12 months, including the 3M a year ago. But his victories last year did not count toward the Ryder Cup, and he’s been indifferent since his victory in Mexico earlier this year. He missed the cut at the Open and is not among the top 12 in the current standings.

Morikawa, who has won two major championships, went 3-0-1 at Whistling Straits (he was 3–0 as a partner to Dustin Johnson) and would seemingly be a good partner for anyone.

Adding to the intrigue are two, possibly three, players who nobody saw coming.

U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, British Open champion Brian Harman and Keegan Bradley, who won the Travelers Championship and is probably one good event away from making the team on his own. At least Bradley has Ryder Cup experience, having played in the event twice. Neither Clark nor Harman has played a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup.

There are just four more events to qualify for one of the top six automatic spots that are now held by Scottie Scheffler, Clark, Harman, Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. Those players appear set for the team even if one of them were to fall out. Koepka, as a LIV player, will not be earning any more points, and the first two FedEx Cup playoff events offer $20 million purses.

After that, it’s Max Homa, Cam Young, Spieth, Bradley, Morikawa and Rickie Fowler in the seventh through 12 positions. Bradley has slipped to 10th after being seventh following his victory. Sam Burns is 13th, with Thomas 14th and Finau 19th.

LIV players Talor Gooch and Dustin Johnson seemingly played their way out of contention. Despite winning three times with LIV Golf, Gooch missed the cut at two majors and didn’t try to qualify for the U.S. Open. Johnson, who seemed poised for a strong Open after a tie for 10th at the U.S. Open, missed the cut.

Zach Johnson might have to decide between experience and who is playing the best. Going to Rome will not be easy. The U.S. team has not won in Europe in 30 years and seemingly struggles on venues that are set up to deal better with the opponent’s style of play.

Thomas and Finau know what it’s like, and that is valuable. But is that worth their present-day shortcomings?

“I do know this: Once you feel like you've got this game, man, you’ve got to, we’re going to keep riding it, and that’s a fun ride, but the moment you think you've got it, it can chew you up and spit you out, and then the moment you think you’re miles and miles away, you're probably technically about that far away,’’ Zach Johnson said. “My hope is that JT and all those guys -- you go down the list. I want all those guys in good form. I want them to make my decision really difficult.