100 days to Italy: Early look at the potential United States 2023 Ryder Cup team
Mark your calendars, golf fans. The Ryder Cup is just 100 days away.
That’s right, in just about three months the United States will look to not just defend its Cup title against the Europeans, but also win for the first time on foreign soil in 30 years.
Twelve of the best players from the U.S. will take on Europe’s 12 best at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, for the 2023 Ryder Cup, Sept. 29–Oct. 1, and the teams are starting to take shape.
American players began earning points at the beginning of 2022, and at the conclusion of the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship on Aug. 20, 2023, the top six players on the points list will qualify for the U.S. team. Captain Zach Johnson will then announce his six captain’s picks following the 2023 Tour Championship, Aug. 24-27.
While it’s difficult for LIV Golf players to earn automatic qualification (though one is currently ranked No. 3 in points), American players who left the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed circuit are still eligible for the team via a grace period for their PGA of America membership that runs until June 2024. But will any be picked?
Here’s an updated look at what the U.S. team may look like 100 days out from Italy.
Scottie Scheffler
The world No. 1 sits atop the current points list thanks to his dominant last two seasons on Tour that have featured six wins, including his first major at the Masters and first Players Championship this season. So far in 2023 Scheffler has 16 top-25 finishes in 17 starts, with 13 in the top 10. He had a shaky debut at the Presidents Cup last fall at Quail Hollow (0-3-1), but expect Scheffler to contribute to the Red, White and Blue in Italy.
Wyndham Clark
Six months ago golf fans couldn’t pick Wyndham Clark out of a lineup. After earning his first PGA Tour win last month and his first major championship last week, Clark has rocketed up to No. 2 in the points list and has a great chance to remain in the top six for automatic qualification.
Brooks Koepka
Earlier this year the argument was being formed that Koepka could be a worthy captain’s pick. Now Zach Johnson might not even have to make a choice. After news of the proposed deal between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as well as Koepka’s T-2 at the Masters, PGA Championship win and T-17 at the U.S. Open, the five-time major champ currently sits third on the points list.
There’s an asterisk at the bottom of the standings page that reads:
*Points ranking does not guarantee qualification for the Ryder Cup. Players must separately meet all eligibility requirements.
While it’s still up in the air, Koepka appears to be heavily in the mix.
Xander Schauffele
Put Schauffele (No. 4) and his pal Patrick Cantlay (No. 6, but more on that to come) down for the next two spots. The players each were 3-1-0 at the Presidents Cup, 2-1-0 when paired together. Oh, and at last year’s Ryder Cup, with each player making their debut, they were 2-0-0 in foursomes (alternate shot). Book ’em both.
Max Homa
Not only is Homa a fan-favorite, he proved (major performances aside) that he can be relied upon in the biggest moments after a perfect debut at the Presidents Cup. Homa went 4-0-0, made clutch putt after clutch putt and flipped his Sunday singles match against Tom Kim, winning 1 up after falling 3 down through 11 holes. He’s played his way into the top six with two wins and eight top-10 finishes this season, and even if he falls out of automatic qualification, Johnson and his assistant captains will be hard pressed to find a more-deserving player.
Patrick Cantlay
Check his Presidents Cup stats above. On top of that, Cantlay rolled Shane Lowry, 4 and 2, in his Ryder Cup singles debut in 2021 and finished the week in Wisconsin 3-0-1, tied for the most points on the team. Pair him with Schauffele again and watch the two go to work.
Jordan Spieth
Spieth has dropped out of the top six and currently sits seventh on the points list and should absolutely be a pick given his team golf history and recent resurgence. The 29-year-old was a perfect 5-0-0 at the Presidents Cup last fall and is already primed to make his fifth Ryder Cup appearance, where he boasts a modest 8-7-3 record (0-3-1 in singles). Spieth had his swagger back at Quail Hollow, and the Euros could be in trouble if he packs it on his carry on to Rome.
Justin Thomas
Things have gone south for Thomas in a hurry this season, and his recent second-round 81 at the U.S. Open might be rock bottom by his lofty standards. However, he’s still inside the top 12 of the points list and in two previous appearances Thomas is 6-2-1 in the Ryder Cup. He’s made for team events like this, as seen by his 4-1-0 showing at the Presidents Cup, where he went undefeated when paired with Spieth. Give the former world No. 1 some time to get back into form and let him loose alongside Spieth once again.
Cameron Young
Young was as high as fourth on the points list earlier this season but has since taken a step back to eighth. His good-not-great 1-2-1 performance in his Presidents Cup debut left a little to be desired, but the no-nonsense Young has a bulldog mentality and the U.S. should bet on his bark to match his bite in Rome.
Collin Morikawa
The two-time major champion has been driving the struggle bus at times this year, but he’s slotted in well for Team USA at his Ryder Cup debut in 2021 (3-0-1) and Presidents Cup debut last fall (2-1-0). Now 10th on the list, he’s on the outside looking in for automatic qualification, but you can bet that barring a drastic drop in form or injury, the 26-year-old makes this team.
Sam Burns
Presidents Cup captain Davis Love III was clearly trying to get the pairing of Burns and Scheffler to mesh at Quail Hollow last year, but it just didn’t work. The 26-year-old went winless like Scheffler, but did earn a pair of ties, including one in singles against Hideki Matsuyama. He’s got the talent, as seen by his win and five top 10s this season, but can be erratic. At ninth on the points list, he’s more than likely making the squad.
Tony Finau
Finau should probably be higher up, but given his current standing of 17th on the points list, he’s coming in towards the back of the pack, which is surprising given his two wins and 11 top 25s this year. The big man went about his business to the tune of a 3-1-0 record (2-0-0 with Homa) at the Presidents Cup last fall, and should pair well with him again in Italy.
Final spot up for grabs
A strong case can be made for the previous 11 to be on the team. It’s the last spot that’s truly up for grabs, with a handful of worthy names all in consideration.
The next few players currently on the bubble of automatic qualification who haven’t been mentioned are the likes of Kurt Kitayama (12), Will Zalatoris (13), Denny McCarthy (14), Harris English (15) and Rickie Fowler (16).
Sure, Kitayama has a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but he also has nine missed cuts vs. just 10 made cuts. You’d think Zalatoris would be a no-brainer, but will he be back and healthy enough after a season-ending back surgery? McCarthy and English are having fine seasons, but neither jump off the page.
Fowler, on the other hand, is gaining momentum With finishes of T-6, T-9 and T-5 in his last three starts, the 34-year-old now has seven top 10s and 13 top 25s in 18 starts this season. He’s a Ryder Cup veteran compared to most on the potential squad, but boasts just a 3-7-5 record in four appearances.
Daniel Berger (2-1-0 in his Ryder Cup debut in 2021) likely won’t be back in full form after a lengthy injury, but perhaps we see a new name like Sahith Theegala, who has seven top 10s this year and has missed just one cut in 22 starts.
With 100 days to go until the first shots are in the air, the window of time is shrinking for players to earn one of the coveted 12 spots on Team USA.
