Sign up for our daily newsletter

Want latest news, reviews, analysis, deals, and events, and offers from our commercial partners? We’ve got you.

Captain speaking: Davis Love revealed his four captain’s picks at a press conference in New York

Love opts for quartet of Stricker, Furyk, Johnson and Snedeker

Davis Love III has finalised the US Ryder Cup side with the selection of his four captain’s picks: Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, and Brandt Snedeker.

The quartet were announced at a press conference in New York following the Deutsche Bank Championship, and join the eight already-qualified American players to have earned their places automatically for the match at Medinah from September 28-30.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am that these four guys are going to round out our Ryder Cup Team,” said the US captain. “We have got a great team. I think we are extremely deep this time; I think deeper than we have ever been.”

Love said that he had opted for Dustin Johnson “to plug some holes in our line-up.” The big-hitting 28-year-old has averaged 310 yards in driving distance this season, an advantage that Love says could be made to count over the notoriously long course at Medinah. “That is a big ballpark, and it’s perfect for us,” he said. “I love Dustin Johnson on that golf course.”

The US captain also described Jim Furyk as “one of the most consistent players on the Tour, one of the most respected players on the Tour.” Furyk has a distinctly unimpressive Ryder Cup record, though it seems Love overlooked his Ryder Cup record in favour of a 5-0 performance in the Presidents Cup last year.

“The best player on Tour the last five or six years,” is what Love sees in Steve Stricker. The late bloomer will be making his third Ryder Cup appearance, and in that period he has forged a formidable partnership with Tiger Woods. “The guy just plays consistent, steady golf, and he’s a steady influence on a lot of players,” he added.

There are now four rookies on the US side with the selection of Brandt Snedeker. The 32-year-old leads the PGA Tour in the ‘Strokes Gained – Putting’ stats, an asset Love thinks will be invaluable. “We need hot putters,” he reasoned.

That left Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney and Rickie Fowler out in the cold. Mahan is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this season, though his form has dipped severely in recent months. Watney won just two weeks ago at The Barclays, but has done relatively little else this year. Rickie Fowler, meanwhile, earned his first PGA Tour win earlier this season at Quail Hollow, and put in an inspirational performance last time around at Celtic Manor.

Love admitted it had been difficult to whittle the contenders down to four picks.

“It was a tough decision,” he said. “But I felt like in the end, we rounded out our 12 the best way we knew how.”

topics


author headshot

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered

More Reads

Image Turnberry green

The bunkered Golf Course Guide - Scotland

Now, with bunkered, you can discover the golf courses Scotland has to offer. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.

Find Courses

Latest podcast

The PLAYERS Championship