The Ryder Cup is just around the corner, with the biennial match taking place at Bethpage Black between September 26th and 28th.
For Team USA, the New York edition presents the ideal opportunity to bounce back from an emphatic defeat against the Europeans at Marco Simone in Italy two years ago, with Keegan Bradley entrusted with the task of leading the team to its third victory in a row on home soil.
Half of his team is already in place courtesy of the automatic qualifying process, with Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau all booking the spots via that route.
However, that still leaves six places up for grabs, with the captain set to reveal his choices to complete the line-up on Wednesday, August 27th at 11am EDT.
Bradley has already hinted at some US Ryder Cup wildcard surprises, but while we await confirmation of his picks, here are 13 of the names likely to be in his mind ahead of the announcement, along with some outsiders.
Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas is a near-certainty for a Ryder Cup place
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Thomas finished just one place beneath the sixth and final automatic qualifying position, so that alone would likely persuade Bradley he’s worth a place in the team.
However, some other big factors are working in Thomas’s favor. One is his existing Ryder Cup record, which reads 7-4-2 over his three appearances.
Another is a resurgence in form. Thomas was a surprise omission from the 2024 US Presidents Cup team, but that came in the midst of an indifferent spell.
Since then, he has put those difficulties behind him, including victory at the RBC Heritage to make him a near-certainty for inclusion.
Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa would bring vital Ryder Cup experience to the team
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Morikawa has two Ryder Cup appearances under his belt and boasts a 4-3-1 overall record. That, combined with his placing of eighth in the US team rankings, means he’ll surely be one of Bradley’s easier choices for a wildcard.
While Morikawa’s winless run on the PGA Tour goes back to October 2023, he has shown enough this year to suggest he would be a valuable addition to the team, including two runner-up finishes.
It’s not all rosy for Morikawa, as the last of those…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Latest from Golf Monthly…