2023-05-18 13:25:59
ROCHESTER | Four months. That’s the time Zach Johnson, captain of the US team at the September Ryder Cup, has to decide on his roster. Representatives of LIV Golf among its boxes of discretionary choices?
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“It’s not even on my radar yet,” said “ZJ” yesterday during his press conference on the sidelines of the PGA of America Championship.
Because LIV golfers who are still members of the PGA are still eligible to participate in the prestigious biennial competition which will take place this time in Rome, Italy.
Under the point system that began in 2022, members of the top 6 are guaranteed to represent their country. The other six will be selected by the captain.
All LIV golfers will therefore fall into this category, as they are far from the top 6 unless they win one of the three major championships still at stake until the fateful date of August 20.
Presage
But according to Johnson’s non-verbal when asked regarding the possibility of seeing Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka represent the United States next September, one can doubt their presence. And that’s even though DJ topped the competition with five victories at Whistling Straits in the fall of 2021.
“My vision is that every guy who wants to make the team has to try to finish in the top 6,” said Zach Johnson. As for Dustin, he has a long track record. He’s one of the best of my generation, but it’s not fair to guess his true form if I can’t witness it.”
The captain travels to Grand Slam tournaments and those on the PGA Tour. We therefore understand by this statement that the color carriers of LIV will have to roll up their sleeves at the PGA Championship and at the American and British omniums.
More than a good week
So far, “ZJ” has only seen Johnson and Koepka in action in Augusta. The first took the 48th rank and the second, the second rung by escaping the victory in the final round. DJ has since won the LIV tournament last week while Koepka won in April.
“I haven’t really seen them since Augusta. Brooks played very well there. But it’s only one week. I cannot speak concretely. There’s still a lot of golf left until the decisions are made.”
This is also why the captain will keep an eye open in Rochester, as well as in Los Angeles in a month and in Liverpool in mid-July. Johnson, Koepka and co must continue to stand out among the world’s golfing elite as they face a limited field of 48 players on the LIV Tour. The two would obviously like to compete at the Marco Simone Golf Club, they said on the sidelines of the PGA of America Championship. Without having control over the decisions to come this summer, they believe they can help the team if they receive a call from the captain. But they don’t have to embark on a lobbying campaign to make their mark. Their respective career records speak for themselves.
Although these two belligerents have nothing more to prove, they are among the big guns eyeing the imposing Wanamaker trophy in Oak Hill. Several of them are looking for a first victory this season, such as Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
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