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Dustin Johnson believes he should be playing at the Ryder Cup this year – but Jack Nicklaus disagrees.

Johnson obliterated the Europeans two years ago, becoming only the third golfer since 1979 to record a flawless 5-0-0 record in America’s 19-9 demolition job at Whistling Straits

But the five-time Ryder Cup stalwart, who finished 40th in the US standings, was ignored by Zach Johnson in his captain’s picks for this year’s showdown.

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Brooks Koepka, who was seventh after his PGA Championship victory, was the only LIV golfer selected on either side.

And the overlooked Johnson was adamant that he had warranted a wildcard.

“Have I played well enough to be on the team? Yeah.” told the Palm Beach Post. “I didn’t have the best year. Was it good enough to make the team? I think so. If I would have been playing on (the PGA Tour), yeah, I would have made the team. “Do I think I can help the US team? Absolutely.”

Nicklaus, who played in six Ryder Cups across his garlanded career, thinks captain Johnson made the right choice.

“I don’t think there’s anybody else (from LIV) that deserved to be picked,” the 18-time major winner told the same paper when reacting to the inclusion of Koepka.

The Golden Bear had disregarded LIV players at the Memorial Tournament back in April by claiming they are not “part of the game anymore.”

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But Nicklaus now insists Koepka made sure his selection wasn’t up for debate.

“I think he deserved to be on the team,” the 83-year-old added. “No question. He played very well. He played very well in very important tournaments. He got beat out the last tournament for the automatic spot, but he’s still deserved to be picked.”

Koepka, meanwhile, believes Johnson’s omission in Rome is down to his below-par major record in 2023 .

Johnson did secure a top-ten in the US Open, but was well down the field in the other three big events.

“I get the case for DJ,” Koepka told Sports Illustrated. “He played great the last time, played great last year. Hasn’t really played that great this year… or hasn’t played to DJ’s standard. That’s a better way to put that. And he didn’t play well in the majors. So I can see why he didn’t get a pick. “