U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker welcomed a half-dozen players to the Stars & Stripes fold Sunday night at the end of play at the BMW Championship. The tournament concluded the qualifying period for the U.S., with the top-six players in the points standings automatically earning a spot on the team that will face Europe, Sept. 24-26, at Whistling Straights in Wisconsin.
Five of the six – Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Justin Thomas – already were assured spots on the team before the BMW Championship began. The sixth spot was secured by Patrick Cantlay, who beat DeChambeau in a 6-hole playoff Sunday to win the BMW Championship.
“I love the six guys we have right now,” Stricker told Golfweek. “I love what I’m seeing, a lot of the guys playing well late in the season, a lot of guys in form right now.”
Stricker will round out his squad by making six discretionary selections following play in the upcoming week’s Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.
On the other side of the pond, nine players – four off the European points list and five off the World points list – will automatically make the team at the conclusion of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sept. 12. Europe captain Padraig Harrington will make three discretionary picks following the tournament.
On paper, Stricker’s automatics would make the U.S. the favorite, as all six are ranked in the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking; only Cantlay hasn’t won a major championship; and Johnson, Koepka and Thomas have reached No. 1 in the world.
In the air, the team could unload plenty of firepower on the massive course at Whistling Straits, as Johnson, DeChambeau, Koepka, Thomas and Cantlay are among the game’s longest players.
Closer to the ground, Morikawa is on the short list of the game’s best iron players, with Thomas in the discussion, as well. And the other four ain’t chopped liver.
On the experience side, only Morikawa and Cantlay have yet to play in the Ryder Cup.
Putting, on the other hand, doesn’t look to be a strength on paper. Then again, DeChambeau is in the top 35 on the PGA Tour in total putting and Cantlay just made 537 feet of putts to win the BMW Championship.
Stricker, who will go to The Tour Championship, said he will get together with the six automatics for input on the team the six captain’s picks and possible partnerships.
“I want to know what they are thinking,” Stricker said. “They’re out there living this every day and they know what’s going on and who’s playing well and who would be good fits as partners.
“I want to know where their heads are at.”
Get to know the players who will represent Team USA at the Ryder Cup.