Ryder Cup team predictions: Who’s in and who’s out for Team Europe and Team USA
The 44th edition of the Ryder Cup takes place this September in Rome; it was originally scheduled to be held in 2022.
Europe will be buoyed with Rory McIlroy’s runner-up finish at the US Open. The Northern Irishman was Europe’s closest competitor in Los Angeles finishing just one stroke behind first-time major winner Wyndham Clark. Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood finished in a tie for a fifth thanks to a closing 63.
Rickie Fowler’s resurgence at the US Open will thrill Zach Johnson, the USA captain, but the pitiful form of Justin Thomas will be a huge concern.
Here, Telegraph Sport’s golf experts make their selections.
James Corrigan, Golf Correspondent
Wyndham Clark looks a Ryder Cup natural and Zach Johnson will be pleased to have him. The US captain’s big concern is Justin Thomas, who shot an 81 to miss the cut and so continue his terrible run.
Unless the former world No 1 can bounce back on the next few months then he could lose his place to Dustin Johnson or Rickie Fowler. For Europe, Tommy Fleetwood’s form is a boon, with his 63 on Sunday following up his play-off loss in Canada.
Jordan Smith’s 66 to finish 20th caught the eye but for the moment Yannick Paul is in the automatic placings. Pablo Larrazabal’s recent pair of wins makes him favourite to become Jon Rahm’s Spanish hombre in Rome.
Europe: Rahm, McIlroy, Hovland, Hatton, Lowry, Fitzpatrick, Fleetwood, Rose, Straka, Meronk, Larrazabal, Paul
US: Scheffler, Koepka, Homa, Spieth, Thomas, Cantlay, Young, Schauffele, Burns, Morikawa, Finau
Oliver Brown, Chief Sports Writer
In the wake of the US Open, a couple of key personnel changes suggest themselves. Firstly, champion Wyndham Clark has unquestionably played himself into the team, backing up his first PGA Tour triumph at Quail Hollow with a remarkably composed final round to repel the threat of McIlroy and claim his national championship after missed cuts in both his previous attempts.
On present form he edges out Tom Hoge, who is the crispest of ball-strikers but who is struggling for consistency, failing even to make the weekend at Los Angeles Country Club.
Initially I was persuaded that a Ryder Cup in Rome warranted the presence of an Italian, in the shape of Francesco Molinari, who famously won five points out of five in Paris. But Molinari’s recent record is wretched: the 2018 champion has fallen all the way to world No 147 and captain Luke Donald simply cannot take the risk.
Pablo Larrazabal, who secured back-to-back DP World Tour titles last month, should replace him.
Europe: Rahm, McIlroy, Hovland, Hatton, Lowry, Fitzpatrick, Fleetwood, Rose, Straka, Meronk, Larrazabal, N Hojgaard
US: Scheffler, Koepka, Homa, Spieth, Thomas, Cantlay, Young, Schauffele, Burns, Morikawa, Finau, Clark
Tom Cary, Senior Sports Correspondent
Zach Johnson’s options are endless, with LIV players in the mix and so many PGA Tour pros capable of winning big. Wyndham Clark being the latest example.
It would be tough to leave out the new US Open champion. Rickie Fowler, too, after his performance in LA. Justin Thomas is just about hanging in there.
For Europe, the top seven or eight pick themselves. Thereafter it will boil down to gut instinct on Luke Donald’s part. Still hoping Francesco Molinari might come good to rekindle his bromance with Fleetwood.
The Italian missed the cut in LA but not by much.
Europe: McIlroy, Rahm, Paul, Hovland, Hatton, Fitzpatrick, Fleetwood, Rose, Perez, Meronk, Otaegui, Straka
USA: Scheffler, Koepka, Homa, Schauffele, Spieth, Cantlay, Young, Burns, Morikawa, Clark, Johnson, Thomas
