GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — The first two days of any Ryder Cup feature an array of decisions any Captain must ponder.
Since there are only eight slots to fill for each of the sessions in the first two days of the event that means four of the 12-player teams must sit things out.
The USA Captain opted to leave out of the AM foursomes matches three players who have won a total of eleven (11) major championships. Just to place this in the proper context and to itemize crystal clarity — the eight players picked to play in the opening foursomes had won a combined total of four majors.
All three players made the USA team via a Captain’s pick and it appeared on first glance they would each play a crucial role in the American attempt to win for the first time on European soil since 1993.
Keep this firmly in mind, Thomas and Spieth have known each other for quite some time. In the 2018 Ryder event in Paris, when just about everyone else on the USA squad laid a colossal egg — the tandem went 3-0. In both Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, Spieth and Thomas have a sterling overall match-play record of 7-1-0 and a foursome record of 4-1-0.
It’s important to point out that in five appearances in Ryder and Presidents Cup matches Thomas has a remarkable record of 16-5-2.
So much speculation existed before the matches regarding if Thomas would be selected as a Captain’s pick and much of the rationale given by Johnson when picking him centered around this ringing endorsement — “You don’t just leave JT at home. He is without question, the heart and soul of (the U.S. team). Our emotional leader.”
Well, when it came time to demonstrate that belief with his selections for the first session of this year’s Ryder Cup matches, Johnson opted to leave the “emotional leader” on the sidelines rather than playing.
What’s striking is that by holding back Thomas the spotlight will only increase on Justin when he does finally play. Johnson has done his “emotional leader” no favors in pushing him back in the proceedings.
The USA skipper is taking a calculated risk not only with Thomas but also with keeping on the sidelines Spieth and Koepka. While Spieth did not win on the PGA TOUR this year, he has shown the capacity to raise his game when crucial moments happen. His overall Ryder Cup record in five appearances comes to 8-7-3.
The absence of Koepka is also hard to fathom. When Brooks made his Ryder Cup debut back in 2016 — the feeling shared by a number of European players was that the man they feared most was Koepka. This year he captured his 5th major title after nearly winning his first Masters before an uncharacteristic blow-up at Augusta prevented him from wearing the green jacket.
Koepka’s Ryder Cup record stands at 6-5-1 and he has never lost a singles match with a record of 2-0-1.
Interestingly, Johnson opted to play three of the four rookies on the USA team in the opening match. Two of them — Max Homa and Brian Harman – will be paired together.
In the leadoff position is Scottie Scheffler and rookie Sam Burns. The duo will face a formidable pair in Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton. Securing the first point in any Ryder Cup is always a morale booster. For Scheffler the concerns over his putting woes will be an item of intense interest. For Burns, the wherewithal to handle the immediate pressures of a Ryder Cup match will be front and center.
Thomas, Spieth and Koepka have been the center point of the USA efforts in Ryder and Presidents Cup play now that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk are all in the rear view mirror.
Captain Luke Donald smartly opted to start the matches with foursomes given the ineptitude the USA squad has shown in the format when played on European soil. Knowing this, one would have thought Johnson would use his strongest players into the mix so that any early momentum could potentially flow to the USA side. Thereby, keeping the pro-Euro attendees from ramping up the volume level.
The Friday AM foursomes session is only worth four total points out of 28 being contested. However, Johnson’s gambit is a risky one. Given the lack of an American victory on Euro soil for 30 years its important matters get started in a positive trend.
Credit Donald for the tactics he has shown at the outset. Now the outcome rests with the execution from the players. Johnson’s picks for the first session had best realize the steep hill their Captain has placed them and the climb they must now successfully negotiate.
