Brooks Koepka makes Ryder Cup team, only LIV golfer on Team USA

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Just one participant from LIV Golf will play within the Ryder Cup, and that’s Brooks Koepka, who gained the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

U.S. Captain Zach Johnson chosen Koepka as one in every of his captain’s picks on Tuesday.

“When it got here to Koepka, his expertise, his temperament, his ardour for the Ryder Cup all spoke volumes,” Johnson stated.

“He and I’ve communicated quite a bit over the previous few months. Now we have had nice discussions, very candid discussions, and when he began to make his approach onto this staff—the way in which I see it, he mainly earned his approach onto the staff if you get right down to the pennies and {dollars} of it, it was a fairly straightforward choose.”

Alongside together with his victory in Rochester, Koepka completed in a tie for second at The Masters in April. He has undoubtedly been among the best 12 American gamers this season, no matter tour.

Brooks Koepka, PGA Championship, LIV Golf

Brooks Koepka embraces caddy Ricky Elliott after successful the 2023 PGA Championship.
Picture by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR through Getty Pictures

But, considerably satirically, Phil Mickelson shot a 7-under 65 in the course of the remaining spherical of The Masters, which tied Koepka on the finish of play. Every participant then obtained $1,584,000 in prize cash.

If he had completed solo 2nd, Koepka would have earned $1,944,000.

And since Ryder Cup factors had been predicated on complete earnings, Koepka earned solely 2,376 factors at Augusta Nationwide as a substitute of two,916 factors.

Then, months later, following the BMW Championship, which marked the tip of computerized qualifying for the U.S. staff, Koepka completed 29 factors shy of Xander Schauffele, who claimed the sixth and remaining computerized qualifying spot.

However that doesn’t matter now, as Koepka shall be a part of 12 gamers representing the pink, white, and blue at Marco Simone Golf Membership in Rome, Italy, subsequent month.

“What figured in my decision-making was making an attempt to select six gents that made six guys that earned their approach, complete, which means they’re all one-twelfth of the staff,” Johnson added. “These guys are usually not ranked. They’re all part of the staff, equally.”

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Make sure you try @_PlayingThrough too.