In forming one of the best pairings of the Ryder Cup, Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa seemed to bring out the best in each other. DJ’s length and even-keeled approach was the perfect complement to an eager Morikawa and his precision iron play.
The U.S. team ran roughshod over the European squad at the 43rd Ryder Cup, winning by a margin of 19-9, earning the most points since the event went to its current format.
Johnson led the way for the Americans, as he entered with a career 7-9 Ryder Cup mark but won all five of his matches at Whistling Straits, becoming the first American since Larry Nelson in 1979 to go 5-0-0.
Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele all won three times during the week. Fellow rookie Scottie Scheffler also went unbeaten, winning twice while earning a tie.
In an interview with Golf Digest’s Daniel Rapaport, Morikawa said he and DJ didn’t exchange a ton of dialogue.
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“We didn’t say too much. When we were up, it was just me saying, ‘Let’s step on their necks. Let’s finish off this match.’ Our conversations ended pretty quickly. It wasn’t a ton, probably less than everyone else,” Morikawa said. “One DJ moment came after Paul Casey holed out on Saturday morning on 14. I think our match was now 1 up. And I’m sure a lot of guys would start freaking out and worrying, but he looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and said Good shot. We went to the next hole. Absolutely no conversation about the hole-out.
“That’s who DJ is. He leads with a quiet confidence. His presence was felt all week. When we really did need him to speak up, before the captain’s picks, he spoke his mind and it was awesome to hear that.”
After the team got off to an impressive start on Friday at Whistling Straits, the captains realized they’d formed some special units. In fact, vice captain Jim Furyk told Golfweek the group’s biggest problem was figuring out who to take out of the lineup.
“It was hard to figure out how we were going to sit four guys,” Furyk said. “It was just a super-talented team and we had a bunch of guys playing well. Not one vice captain ever walked in that room and said, you know what, I think we need to rest this guy because he’s struggling.
“Those are champagne problems, right? When you have those problems, it makes for a great team.”
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