Ryder Cup: Zach Johnson names his six captain’s picks

Zach Johnson has named Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka among his six captain’s picks for the US Ryder Cup team.

Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa have also been selected as wildcards for the showdown against Europe just outside Rome.

Sam Burns was also picked by Johnson, meaning Cameron Young, Keegan Bradley and Lucas Glover have all missed out.

• Luke Donald names six European captain’s picks

• Team USA Solheim Cup team confirmed 

Johnson officially finalised his 12-man team for Marco Simone at the PGA of America headquarters in Texas on Tuesday.

Thomas was a contentious selection given the former world No.1 has been desperately out-of-form in recent months, shooting scores in the 80s in the US Open and The Open, as well as missing the FedEx Cup playoffs.

But he has a stellar record for Team USA and has been offered a huge show of faith by his skipper Johnson.

Koepka, meanwhile, is the only LIV golfer on Johnson’s team after the PGA Championship winner narrowly missed out on an automatic qualifying berth.

The five-time major champion’s LIV colleagues Bryson DeChambeau and Talor Gooch were talked up as potential wildcard options but will not be making the trip to Rome.

Spieth and Morikawa were both seen as shoo-ins for the contest and will tee it up once again after the 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in 2021, while Fowler has been rewarded for his fine resurgence.

Meanwhile Burns, who won the WGC-Dell Matchplay title earlier this year, will be the fourth debutant on Johnson’s team.

The six players named as wildcards will join automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele. 

Team Europe captain Luke Donald will name his six picks to complete his team on September 4.

Team USA Ryder Cup team 2023

Scottie Scheffler
Wyndham Clark
Brian Harman
Patrick Cantlay
Max Homa
Xander Schauffele
Justin Thomas
Brooks Koepka
Sam Burns
Jordan Spieth
Collin Morikawa
Rickie Fowler

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.