Surprise As Five Major Champs Overlooked For Opening Rome Ryder Cup Matches

2 years ago by Comments Off on Surprise As Five Major Champs Overlooked For Opening Rome Ryder Cup Matches

It comes as a surprise that five major champions, two on the European Team and three on the USA side, have been overlooked for the opening series of matches in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

European team captain Luke Donald has decided to leave out the pair of US Open champions in Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick while his opponet in Zach Johnson has elected not to send out reigning US PGA Champion Brooks Koepka and also Justin Thomas and four-time major winning Jordan Spieth.

Instead Donald has gone with two rookies for tomorrow morning’s session that include Ludwig Aberg and Sepp Straka, and each making their Ryder Cup debut.

More alarming is the decision by Johnson not to send out Koepka, Spieth or Thomas who between them boast 10 majors championships victories and a combined nine Ryder Cup showings.

Koepka and JT have been a tremendous asset for the USA in both Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup competition being unbeaten in the latter last year.

Johnson’s decision has already generated huge social media interest with the comments questioning how can the USA captain not lead with a show of strength as the USA team look to win for a first time in 30-years on opposition soil.

USA Captain Zack Johnson defends his decision to leave Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas out of the opening 2023 Ryder Cup session. (Photo – Ryder Cup/Getty)

Instead, Johnson has gone with three rookies in Sam Burns and the all-rookie second match featuring Max Homa and Open Champion Brian Harman who will tackle Viktor Hovland and rookie Ludvig Aberg.

“Well, the gist of it is we’ve got 12 guys,” said Johnson when asked about his decision.

“Unfortunately, I can’t play all 12 each session. So at some point, somebody’s got to sit. It’s a golf course that demands a lot out of you physically.

“I mean, I think it’s an ideal situation where you don’t necessarily want to play everybody all five sessions. I’m not saying that’s what we’re going to do, but you’re taking everything into account. Not only that, but the eight guys I have down on paper are the ones that we feel best put us in the position to get off to a great start obviously.

“Then trying to fill in the holes for the four sessions. I have the utmost confidence in these eight and the utmost confidence in Jordan and Justin. I know we’re talking about a great tandem, but it’s a situation where it’s not about their form. They’re playing great. So it’s really just a matter of trying to dissect all five sessions.”

Of course, all we can do now is wait and see if Johnson opening selections can wins their matches or not.

However, what also is alarming is that during the opening ceremony prior to the pairings announcement, LIV golfer Koepka appeared to be booed by sections of the crowd but Johnson brushed any concerns aside.

“I didn’t hear anything. It’s hard to hear from the stage,” said Johnson.

“You could hear, but as far as something specific like that, I did not hear anything. I know Brooks well enough to know that he’s very secure in himself, and I know that his 11 teammates are very secure in him.

“So the way we approach it; that’s all that’s important. I didn’t hear anything other than applause for the guys I mentioned.”



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