US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson refuses to rule out picking LIV Golfers for this team
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson is leaving the door ajar for LIV golfers to be picked for this year’s event in Rome.
Zach Johnson has declined to say whether he would pick in-form LIV golfers like Brooks Koepka for his U.S. Ryder Cup team this fall.
U.S. defectors remain eligible if they can accumulate enough ranking points to move into the top six of the U.S. Cup standings, or if their performance argues for one of Johnson’s six picks.
LIV politics has been all the rage over that powder keg situation, but Koepka – who led the Masters after 54 holes and went on to win from the same position here – is in such good shape that he needs to be in the conversation.
But Johnson gives little encouragement to the likes of Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, saying he has no plans to attend LIV events and seems to imply he hasn’t been watching broadcasts either.
“I think the luxury of being captain is that I’m still relevant and dominant on the PGA Tour,” Johnson said on Sunday.
Brooks Koepka (above) scored a two-shot win at the PGA Championship on Sunday
Fellow LIV Golf defector Bryson DeChambeau (above) also had a strong week at Oak Hill
US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson not ruling out choosing LIV golfers for this year’s event
“So if I gave that up in a week where I could be there and where most of my players would come from, it would be irresponsible and inappropriate.”
Asked to clarify if he would be going to any of the LIV tournaments to better monitor progress, he added, “Hasn’t been discussed. I’m not one to say never, but it hasn’t been discussed.’
Johnson has indicated it is too early for such deliberations. That may raise eyebrows with less than five months to the Rome clash.