Ryder Cup week is finally here, one of my favorite weeks of the year and this year Team USA might be the underdogs on paper looking to break a 30 year losing streak in Europe.
On paper Team USA is probably the weakest team we’ve seen in years but they head to Italy with their eyes set on snapping a 30 year losing streak on European soil.
Sam Burns
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Sam Burns of Team United States plays a bunker shot on the eleventh hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Patrick Cantlay
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Patrick Cantlay of Team United States plays a tee shot during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Brian Harman
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Brian Harman of Team United States looks on from the twelfth hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Max Homa
Homa is another golfer making his Ryder Cup debut for Team USA at 32 years old Homa is starting to fire on all cylinders making runs at numerous majors and winning twice on tour this year, with 9 other top-10s. Homa is one of the best putters on tour when he gets it going and Team USA will lean heavily on Homa for not only his putting but his winning demeanor and chemistry with his teammates.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Max Homa of Team United States tees off on the 14th hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Xander Schauffele
Xander is another constantly solid performer on the PGA tour especially in Majors, finishing inside the top 20 at all 4 of them this season. Schauffele also posts a great Ryder Cup record of 3-1, as one of the best putters on the planet Team USA will lean on him heavily to play in every session.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Xander Schauffele of Team United States looks on during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler
All golf fans will know Scottie Scheffler he’s currently the #1 golfer in the world. Scottie had one of the more dominant runs in golf history this season with 19 straight top 12 finishes including a win at the Players Championship. He also leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee-to-green, for Team USA to have a shot Scottie will need to continue his dominant play and rack up some points for the Americans.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Scottie Scheffler of Team United States looks across the 12th tee during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Wyndham Clark
Clark is one of the more unknowns on Team USA, making his Ryder cup debut after winning the U.S. Open and earning one of the automatic qualifiers. Clark was one of numerous golfers (including Rickie Fowler) to switch to the Odyssey Versa Jailbird putter and it’s worked wonders for him. Clark has won twice this season and will hope to make a positive impact in his first Ryder Cup.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Wyndham Clark of Team United States tees off on the tenth hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka is the only LIV golfer in the 24-player field but there’s no controversy around him being selected for team USA, Koepka has posted stellar numbers in his major history and is 6-5-1 in the Ryder Cup. Brooks won his 5th major dominating at Oak Hill shooting in the 60’s his final 3 days. Brooks will be leaned on as one of the few members of the team with multiple Ryder Cup wins.
SUGAR GROVE, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 24: Brooks Koepka plays his approach shot on the 14th fairway during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational – Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms on September 24, 2023 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Collin Morikawa
Morikawa had a disappointing year by his standards but is still one of the best golfers in the world and has a 3-0-1 Ryder Cup record. Morikawa already has 5 wins on the PGA Tour including 2 majors as a 26 year old so a disappointing season for him is a pretty good season by everyone else’s standards. Morikawa is one of the best iron players in the world and Team USA will lean on him heavily to recapture some of that magic that won him an Open championship.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Collin Morikawa of Team United States looks on from the tenth hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth is one of the best golfers on the planet but has seemed cursed in past Ryder Cup events posting a 0-3-1 record without winning a single Sunday-singles matchup. Spieth will look to turn this all around in Rome coming off a resurgent year, team USA will need him to be at his best especially with his putter if they want a chance to break the 30 year drought in Europe.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Jordan Spieth of Team United States plays a tee shot during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas
Some people considered Justin Thomas the most controversial pick of the Ryder Cup, but for me he was an easy and deserving choice for the team. Thomas is one of the best players in the world, his form this year has not been up to his normal standards but the Ryder Cup is a different beast. Thomas has a 6-2-1 record in the Ryder Cup and is widely maligned in Europe which should have made him an automatic pick but an up and down year had people questioning if he deserved to be on the team. As someone who has had to watch Ian Poulter drain putt after putt in Ryder cups for Europe after having suspect seasons on tour Justin Thomas choice should be a no brainer some guys are just built for the high pressure Ryder cup situations and Team USA leaving Thomas at home would have been a short sighted decision.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Justin Thomas of Team United States plays a shot during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
