U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson picked good golf over politics Tuesday in announcing the remainder of the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Johnson made six “captain’s picks” to complete the 12-member team, and named Brooks Koepka as one of those selections.
Koepka has been a controversial figure since he left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in June 2022, becoming one of the most ardent supporters of the Saudi-backed venture. There’s no questioning Koepka’s status as one of the world’s top golfers; he won the PGA Championship this year and tied for second at The Masters.
But whether or not he should be included on the U.S. team had sparked debate in recent weeks. Six golfers automatically qualified for the team based on points: Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele.
Koepka is seventh in points, which would have made him an obvious choice in past years, but the LIV controversy has made everything about golf fraught with heated political implications these days.
The 33-year-old Koepka is thankful for the opportunity to compete.
“I think it’s about just playing for something bigger than yourself,” he said Tuesday. “The most nervous I’ve ever been in a golf tournament was teeing it up at a Ryder Cup.”
Brooks Koepka speaks about making the Ryder Cup team.
“I think it’s about just playing for something bigger than yourself.” 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/4E0QX7jGbb
— Tour Pro 🏌️♂️ (@OfficialTourPro) August 29, 2023
Johnson’s others selections are Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Sam Burns.
The U.S. team will face their European rivals at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club near Rome from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. While the Americans are the defending champions of the event, the U.S. team has not won in Europe since 1993.
Fans were split on the Koepka decision.
Congratulations to Brooks Koepka on a well-deserved selection!
Make US proud! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/QjlTYEBOtd
— LIV Golf Nation (@LIVGolfNation) August 29, 2023
Sooo happy that Zach Johnson picked Brooks Koepka to play in Ryder Cup. He did the RIGHT thing which is really hard 4people in this country to do! I love all his picks. Go USA! #greatestcountrySTILL #winning #gamechanger #icpatterns #thecardinalmediagroup https://t.co/cgHhEfO5Bn
— Toi Cook (@ToiCook) August 29, 2023
so tired to having to watch Brooks Koepka play golf https://t.co/kbB0NcZGG1
— Cara C⚾️💙per (@caramariecooper) August 29, 2023
You're not going to watch and support Brooks Koepka? Thought you cared about the game.
— Youngster Joey (@joey_jojojojojo) August 29, 2023
Plus a Ryder Cup veteran who performs best on golf’s biggest stages.
— John Mitchell Taylor (@jmtiiSrq) August 29, 2023
https://twitter.com/lilshanel69/status/1696544409959940568
Brooks Koepka should not be on the team.
— John Halloran (@halloran_john) August 29, 2023
