'You just don’t leave JT at home' 🇺🇸

The 2023 US Ryder Cup team is now set! Let’s dive into the top stories from Tuesday’s big reveal.

1. The 2023 US Ryder Cup team

US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson announced his highly anticipated captain’s picks on Tuesday. They are:

• Brooks Koepka

• Collin Morikawa

• Jordan Spieth

• Rickie Fowler

• Sam Burns

• Justin Thomas

With these six final spots decided, the 2023 United States team that’ll travel to Rome next month is now complete.

2. Justin Thomas gets the nod, despite a disappointing season 

The biggest storyline from Tuesday wasn’t that Johnson picked a player from LIV Golf (Brooks Koepka), but that he selected Justin Thomas — who’s fresh off perhaps the worst season of his professional career.

Thomas, a two time major winner, missed the cut in three out of four majors this year, shooting a second round 81 at the US Open and an opening round 82 at the Open Championship along the way. He also failed to make the FedEx Cup playoffs, finishing 71st on the season-long points list.

Yes, but: Johnson appeared confident in his decision to take Thomas, who he said “has without question been the heart and soul of Team USA.''

“In my mind, he was born for this,” Johnson said during Tuesday’s press conference. “You just don't leave JT at home.”

Thomas has a 6-2-1 record in his two previous Ryder Cups and creates an obvious partner for another captain’s pick, Jordan Spieth. Between Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, Thomas and Spieth have gone a combined 8-2-0 when paired together.

3. Top JT moments from the 2021 Ryder Cup

And of course…

4. The “Boys Club” debate

“The boys club is alive and well!” Barstool Sports reporter Dan Rapaport wrote in reaction to Justin Thomas, as well as Sam Burns, making the team. It was a sentiment shared by other skeptics as well, including Tiger Woods’ former swing coach Hank Haney.

Catch up quick: Three of Johnson’s picks — Justin Thomas, Jordan Speith, and Rickie Fowler — have long been close friends. (Who could forget the videos from their 2017 spring break in the Bahamas?)

• And, Sam Burns is best friends with Scottie Scheffler.

What they’re saying: “I’ve always been an outsider in the sport but I have tried to get closer to the guys I thought would be on the team,” Keegan Bradley, who had more Ryder Cup points than Burns, Fowler, and Thomas, told Golf Channel reporter Todd Lewis on Tuesday.

• “I feel like moving forward I’m going to have to automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup,” Bradley said.

Of note: Captain Johnson didn’t flat out use the phrase a “boys club” during Tuesday’s presser, but he also didn’t shy away from sharing that the six players who automatically qualified had a hand in the team’s construction.

• “They have taken full ownership of this team, which is exactly what you want,” Johnson said. “Their opinions weighed heavy on what we did.”

The other side: Putting players together that genuinely like each other can help overall team chemistry. It’s an approach that many have praised the European side for taking in years past.

• As podcaster and former PGA Tour player Colt Knost said on Twitter/X: “Europe is so successful in the Ryder Cup bc of their ‘team camaraderie!’ Or ‘boys club’ as some might call it!!”

5. The most awkward call

Johnson said he called most of the top players that didn’t make the team, but the most awkward one had to be with Cam Young.

Not only was Young ninth in the Ryder Cup standings (the highest ranked player not to make it), but also, assistant vice captain Fred Couples had already said publicly that he would be on the team.

• “Cam Young will be in Italy,” Couples said on his SiriusXM radio show earlier this summer.

What they’re saying: “It did keep me up at night having to make those phone calls, specifically Cam,” Johnson said Tuesday.

• “I know what was said, but I think that was a while back,” Johnson added. “It was kind of in jest. It is what it is.”

Details: Young had an impressive rookie season last year with five second place finishes, including a memorable runner-up to Cam Smith on the Old Course at St. Andrews.

• Yes, but: This season, despite a T7 at the Masters and T8 at the Open Championship, Young’s play has been less consistent, finishing 42nd in FedEx Cup points and missing the Tour Championship.

6. Basics to know

• The Ryder Cup starts on September 29.

• This is the first time a Ryder Cup will be played in Italy.

• The Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, located around 10 miles outside of Rome and regular site of the Italian Open, will host the event.

• European captain Luke Donald hasn’t announced his full team yet. That’ll happen next Monday, September 4.

7. ICYMI, here’s what the US team will wear in Rome

Nick’s thoughts: Sure, that sweater might have Scottie Scheffler’s name all over it. But, can anyone else on the team rock it? I can’t wait to find out.

8. Oddsmakers eyeing a European upset

The Americans are still favored to win the Ryder Cup. However, oddsmakers seem to be getting more nervous about a European upset.

Around the Open Championship last month, the Europeans were listed as high as +200, according to the sports website Betsided. (That means, with a $100 bet, you’d earn $200 if they won).

• As of Tuesday evening, however, the sports gambling site Pinnacle listed the Europeans as +131.

Why is the European side starting to look a little scarier?

The red hot play from Norway’s Viktor Hovland is likely a top reason.

• The lackluster recent form on the American side — which includes it’s top ranked player, Scottie Scheffler — is helping the European case as well.

• Plus: Familiarize yourself with a stat you’ll hear continuously over the next month… The Americans haven’t won a Ryder Cup on European soil in 30 years.

9. Closing thoughts 🇺🇸

Every time I visit the US Ryder Cup team’s official Twitter/X page (which has been a lot in the past couple of days), I can’t help but stop and stare (and think) about their banner image.

This group of guys dominated the Europeans in 2021 at Whistling Straits (19-9). And at the time, I (like probably many others) thought our golf version of a US Dream Team would last for many Ryder Cups to come.

But life happens (like Daniel Berger’s back injury, which has sidelined him for over a year). Streaky play happens (and stars like Tony Finau fail to qualify). And of course, LIV happened (Who could have predicted the biggest rift in professional golf history was just around the corner?).

To me, this picture is a reminder of simpler times. Good times. And hopefully, a place we’ll get back to sometime soon.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading!

As a programming alert, since we have a bit of a break from regular tournament play, I’ll send the next newsletter (a 2023 year in review) next week. We’ll resume the regular Wednesday-Friday-Sunday schedule in couple of weeks for the Fortinet Championship, which starts September 14.

Talk soon! - Nick B. 🏌️‍♂️