Tom HamiltonSenior Writer3 Minute Reading
Zach Johnson explains Brooks Koepka’s selection for the Ryder Cup
Zach Johnson joined “SportsCenter” to explain why Brooks Koepka was selected for the Ryder Cup team.
GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — Brooks Koepka says LIV Golf hopefuls who missed out on a spot on the United States’ Ryder Cup team need to play better to force their way into the mix.
Koepka is the only player from LIV to compete in this year’s Ryder Cup, across the US and European teams. Koepka comes to Rome after winning his fifth major at the PGA Championship in May and tied for second at this year’s Masters.
He was one of Zach Johnson’s captain’s picks, but the inclusion of just Koepka from LIV caused others to express their frustration at being overlooked.
Bryson DeChambeau said after his LIV win in Chicago on Sept. 25: “There’s a lot of people that I think Zach should have called out here, and we didn’t get it. I get it, I got it, but we’re no different. We’re still competing.”
When Koepka was asked Wednesday at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club if LIV players were given a fair chance to qualify for the Ryder Cup team on ranking points, he replied: “I don’t make decisions. No — everybody has an opportunity to be there. I mean, I have the same opportunity as every other LIV player, and here I am.
“Play hard. That’s always the answer.”
With fellow LIV members Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell missing out on the European side and DeChambeau joining Dustin Johnson in sitting out this year’s tournament, Koepka is alone in flying the banner LIV.
But he didn’t know the significance of that, nor did he feel like he was representing LIV’s interests in the competition.
“I feel like I’m representing the USA,” Koepka said. “That’s what I have on the front of my hat this week, so that’s what I represent. It’s not a group of individuals in that locker room. We’re just a team, and that’s what we think about. That’s that’s what I believe, and I’m sure everyone there thinks that.”
And he also played down any notion that LIV Golf’s format would help make him a better Ryder Cup player.
“I mean, you just play one round of golf and then the team’s points add up at the end. I don’t see how there is any translation in this format,” said Koepka.
“Yeah, you’re in a group setting or, like, a team setting, but other than that, I don’t see what it’s like – we didn’t play alternative shot or best ball I think until Miami in three weeks, and that’s just one game. You can only take care of yourself, so I think it’s like a Sunday out.”