2023 Ryder Cup - Official Thread

[Byrnzee]

4 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Did anyone find or share any articles about the why for Burns. I am sure he can step up and play well. He has been amazing late in seasons prior so no doubt there, but would love to hear their insights and reasoning behind it. 

This was on the Ryder Cup website but I think is the general consensus amongst the media for why Burns was chosen:

"Burns, 27, is making his first appearance on the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, and will bring his strong match play experience to Rome. He won the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play for his fifth career PGA TOUR title in March. Burns ranks 11th on TOUR and third on the U.S. Team behind only Xander Schauffele and Max Homa in Strokes Gained Putting (0.584) this season."

I think being a great putter is key in these Ryder Cup matches and I honestly forgot he even won the Dell Match Play earlier this year. Hard to ignore his relationship with Scottie as well making them a natural pairing (especially since Scottie can't putt into the ocean at this point).

https://www.rydercup.com/news-media/zach-johnson-announces-six-captains-picks-2023-united-states-ryder-cup-team

[RwsGolf1]

9 minutes ago, Byrnzee said:

This was on the Ryder Cup website but I think is the general consensus amongst the media for why Burns was chosen:

"Burns, 27, is making his first appearance on the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, and will bring his strong match play experience to Rome. He won the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play for his fifth career PGA TOUR title in March. Burns ranks 11th on TOUR and third on the U.S. Team behind only Xander Schauffele and Max Homa in Strokes Gained Putting (0.584) this season."

I think being a great putter is key in these Ryder Cup matches and I honestly forgot he even won the Dell Match Play earlier this year. Hard to ignore his relationship with Scottie as well making them a natural pairing (especially since Scottie can't putt into the ocean at this point).

https://www.rydercup.com/news-media/zach-johnson-announces-six-captains-picks-2023-united-states-ryder-cup-team

Agree regarding the putting,  Also nothing charges the crowd and teammates more than making a clutch putt and winning or extending a match.  We all saw it at the President’s cup and I remember many back Cups where Curtis Strange, Justin Leonard, David Toms, etc. all sunk key putts to inspire the team and win key matches.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

On 8/31/2023 at 5:52 AM, Preeway said:

The only snub out there was Bradley. I totally get why JT was selected over Bradley and Young but it’s a big gamble that has to pay off or this will be talked about forever as a huge blunder. The European team is no joke this year and every decision, starting with the Captain’s picks have to be flawless. Hovland, Rahm and Rory are going to be near impossible to beat. 

The way those three guys have been playing, especially as of late, is such a true statement. Hovland elevating his short game has transformed him into the best player in the world IMO. Fully expect him to be the world #1 at some point next season. Go team USA , but he's a hard guy to root against.

[WaffleHouseTour]

Nice little preview of what the course is going to look like 

A bunch of the marshals I'm in a group with are already worried about hole 15...

[Owengeorge13]

So I’ve been a member now for 22 days.  How come my golf spy doesn’t have an app?  This can’t be the first time someone has brought this up…

[Preeway]

1 hour ago, Owengeorge13 said:

So I’ve been a member now for 22 days.  How come my golf spy doesn’t have an app?  This can’t be the first time someone has brought this up…

just a guess but betting it wouldn’t have the ROI needed to pull that trigger. 

[cnosil]

2 hours ago, Owengeorge13 said:

So I’ve been a member now for 22 days.  How come my golf spy doesn’t have an app?  This can’t be the first time someone has brought this up…

Been brought up a lot.  Had an app years ago.   Now the recommendation is to use the website.    no real need for an app.  

[K8golfer]

Won tickets to the town hall meeting at PGA Frisco with Zach Johnson. Hunter Mahan started off with great stories from his experiences. Anyone remember his incredible putt to basically clinch the cup? Anyone see it? Zach was so humble and wonderful. 

[GolfSpy AFG]

Captain Donald made his picks.  Aberg, Fleetwood, Hojgaard, Lowry, Rose, and Straka.

This is going to a dogfight for the US for sure.  McIlroy, Rahm, Hovland seem like surefire point getters, with Fitzpatrick probably belonging in that conversation too.

[RwsGolf1]

There is no doubt, the US team will have their hands full.  I am anxious to see how the rookies do for the US.  I am definitely a Tommy Fleetwood fan…seems unlucky that he has not had a victory.  His best effort in the US Open was squashed by Koepka or I think he would have had several victories by now.

[stratgolf]

Thought Meronk was hard done by. Only change I would have made! Go Europe.

[fixyurdivot]

There is something about this Ryder Cup that has my overall interest level at an all time low.  

[stratgolf]

2 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

There is something about this Ryder Cup that has my overall interest level at an all time low.  

Interesting - I'm exactly the opposite!

[Preeway]

1 minute ago, fixyurdivot said:

There is something about this Ryder Cup that has my overall interest level at an all time low.  

I wouldn’t say mine is an all time low but all the politics within golf that has played out over the last 1-2 years does have me a bit wore out. I’m definitely excited for this to get going and I know I’ll be up at stupid early in the morning to watch but it does feel different this year. 

[GolfSpy AFG]

6 hours ago, Preeway said:

I wouldn’t say mine is an all time low but all the politics within golf that has played out over the last 1-2 years does have me a bit wore out. I’m definitely excited for this to get going and I know I’ll be up at stupid early in the morning to watch but it does feel different this year. 

I can understand that perspective, but it hasn’t happened to me…I’m as fired up for this as ever, largely because I expect a very tightly contested cup.  The Ryder Cup is hands down my favorite sports event, and I’m going to have a hard time sleeping even a few hours before getting up at 2 for the first tee time!

[RwsGolf1]

5 hours ago, Getoffmylawn said:

I can understand that perspective, but it hasn’t happened to me…I’m as fired up for this as ever, largely because I expect a very tightly contested cup.  The Ryder Cup is hands down my favorite sports event, and I’m going to have a hard time sleeping even a few hours before getting up at 2 for the first tee time!

I enjoy the camaraderie, the competition and know they are predominantly all friends no matter what the outcome.

Edited September 5, 2023 by RwsGolf1

[GolfSpy_APH]

Underrated favorite part is it will be an an actual decent time for me living in Europe. 

[KC Golf]

Europe is definitely deeply favoured in Rome, so it will be interesting if the underdog status will work for the US.  Can they channel a Medinah comeback like Europe in 2012…  should be awesome!  

[JStapp]

1 hour ago, KC Golf said:

Europe is definitely deeply favoured in Rome, so it will be interesting if the underdog status will work for the US.  Can they channel a Medinah comeback like Europe in 2012…  should be awesome!  

Not just that, but the pressure will all be on the US to change our ways overseas. That, and defending the spots that were picked by captains. Should be a great event! 

[richk9holes]

I think Lowry over Meronk is the biggest snub of the whole process.

[LICC]

Choosing JT over Keegan is distasteful- popularity contest over merit. Zach really disappointed.

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 minute ago, LICC said:

Choosing JT over Keegan is distasteful- popularity contest over merit. Zach really disappointed.

Maybe? Let's wait and see how it plays out. There is a lot that goes into these decisions and I'll wait till the event happens to see how it plays out. Not many on the US side have played a Ryder Cup in Europe. JT has that experience and Leadership which could be super valuable... Regardless of how he plays or is playing.

Not saying Keegan didn't potentially earn a spot, but easy to not like it no matter who was picked.

[funkyjudge]

8 minutes ago, LICC said:

Choosing JT over Keegan is distasteful- popularity contest over merit. Zach really disappointed.

How about the decision to select JT over Lucas Glover?

And when we are talking about “snubs”, I think that the European team (Luke Donald)’s decision to take Ludwig Aberg over Adrian Meronk is the biggest snub of all.

[JStapp]

19 hours ago, richk9holes said:

I think Lowry over Meronk is the biggest snub of the whole process.

Hard to leave Lowry off the team though..

[GolfSpy_APH]

56 minutes ago, funkyjudge said:

How about the decision to select JT over Lucas Glover?

And when we are talking about “snubs”, I think that the European team (Luke Donald)’s decision to take Ludwig Aberg over Adrian Meronk is the biggest snub of all.

I like the Aberg pick. Meronk would have been great, however maybe this was a pick looking at the future. Jamie from Sky sports said it pretty well. He mentioned that while Meronk he had felt was a lock for a long time missed out, but had didn't "deserve" the spot. Had he played more in europe vs coming over stateside to play in Honda AP and others he would have likely out qualified B Mac for a spot. In a sense it was his own doing by missing out. The other point he made was he could see that had Meronk made it he could very well see him having been a one time Ryder Cup player. Who knows? They clearly went on the side of youth and getting some younger guys experience who they feel will be fits for their Ryder Cup teams for years to come... not a bad decision I think, but I also love dynasty football and playing the long game. 

[Preeway]

1 hour ago, LICC said:

Choosing JT over Keegan is distasteful- popularity contest over merit. Zach really disappointed.

Not a popularity contest at all. JT has a proven track record in match play. He probably deserved it less than Bradley but he’s a known commodity in this event. Lucas Glover was an easy pass. 

[JStapp]

27 minutes ago, Preeway said:

Not a popularity contest at all. JT has a proven track record in match play. He probably deserved it less than Bradley but he’s a known commodity in this event. Lucas Glover was an easy pass. 

Until JT isn't successful, he will be a pick for sure. Hard to argue. 

[Shrek74]

If we look at pure stats for those that have been in the Ryder Cup already, I would have left Sam Burns home and taken either Keegan or Tony. But that's not how this works. Who's hot? Who's playing well right now? Who plays well together? Who doesn't play well with others? Who's good in the locker room? Who truly embraces the Ryder Cup atmosphere? It's questions like these that are both subjective and controversial that the captain has to answer both in their own mind and with the vice-captains.

To me, Sam Burns is really the only question mark of the picks. Rickie is a partial question mark, but his play all year has been excellent. Sam, not so much. Best finishes are 3 6/T6 (last one in May) in the last 12 months, with 6 MC's. That's just not really good golf for the Ryder Cup. JT has a 4th & a 5th, but 6 MC's. But he's a known commodity in the Ryder Cup.

I left out Bryson since he lost every match in 2018 he was in and really had no business even in the conversation.

[Preeway]

100% agree with Keegan over Burns based on stats and play this year. I know there is more that goes into these decisions though and team chemistry is also a big factor without any hard way to measure it and justify it. 

[Alf. S]

I think Luke Donald has mad a few marginal calls that you've got to hope they work out. So I'm just a hacker that hasn't played on tour or with any of the players but out of the possible picks Meronk and Alexander Bjork were the ones to miss out, 

I'm surprised Meronk was left out having won at Marco Simone earlier this year. I pretty sure the reason Nicolai Højgaard got a pick because of his performance there over the last couple of years at the course.

My 2nd point is I'm not sure how much Straka is committed to the European tour since he has played in limited events and maybe might not fit in to a team environment and Bjork would be a strong player in his place, although not won this year is a strong player with greta short game.

Aberg is interesting and I'm really looking forward to seeing how he fares but on Sunday at Crans Montana he was phenomenal.