Even though the dust has just settled from the 2022 Presidents Cup, where Team USA was once again victorious over the Internationals, it’s already time to start thinking about the next team competition.
Exactly one year from today, the 2023 Ryder Cup will begin at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, where the United States will look to win on foreign soil for the first time since 1993 at The Belfry. That got us thinking, what might Team USA look like 365 days from now?
American players began earning points at the beginning of 2022, and at the conclusion of the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship on August 20, 2023, the top six players on the points list will qualify for the U.S. team. Captain Zach Johnson will then announce his six captain’s picks following the 2023 Tour Championship.
For the sake of this exercise, we’re going to proceed as if players who have left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf aren’t eligible for the team, seeing as players earn points from Tour events (though Dustin Johnson still currently sits at No. 5 and inside qualification). Beneath the current points list, there’s a note with an asterisk that reads, “Points ranking does not guarantee qualification for the Ryder Cup. Players must separately meet all eligibility requirements.”
Here’s an early look at what the U.S. team may look like next year in Italy.
Scottie Scheffler
The world No. 1 sits atop the current points list thanks to his dominant last season on Tour that featured four wins, including his first major at the Masters. After a shaky debut at the recent Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow (0-3-1), Scheffler will be itching to contribute to the Red, White and Blue.
Team USA golfer Scottie Scheffler looks on at the 13th fairway during the foursomes match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. (Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris would have featured on the Presidents Cup team had he not been forced to withdraw due to a back injury. Currently inside the points list, if he’s able to get his form back, we’ll be seeing the 2021 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year making his Ryder Cup debut abroad, potentially paired with a former Wake Forest teammate (more on that later).
Will Zalatoris of the United States plays his shot from the seventh tee during the second round of the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club on August 19, 2022 in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas
In two previous appearances, Thomas is 6-2-1 in the Ryder Cup. He’s made for team events like this, as we saw with his 4-1-0 showing at the Presidents Cup, where he went undefeated when paired with his good buddy Jordan Spieth.
Team USA golfer Justin Thomas celebrates making his putt on the 15th hole during the singles match play of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
Cameron Young
Speaking of Wake Forest grads, up next is Cameron Young, who sits fourth on the points list. His good-not-great 1-2-1 performance in his Presidents Cup debut left a little to be desired, but pair him with Zalatoris and that could be a tough team to beat.
Cameron Young of the United States reacts to his shot on the 14th tee as Will Zalatoris of the United States looks on during the final round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on May 22, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Collin Morikawa
The two-time major champion has slotted in well for Team USA at his Ryder Cup debut last year (3-0-1) and Presidents Cup debut last week (2-1-0). Currently sixth (behind Johnson), he’s right on the bubble for automatic qualification, but you can bet that barring a drastic drop in form or injury, the 25-year-old makes this team.
Team USA golfer Collin Morikawa hits his chip shot on the second green during a practice day for the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. (Photo: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)
Xander Schauffele
Speaking of friends that make for dominant pairings, put Schauffele and his pal Patrick Cantlay down for the next two spots. The pairing each were 3-1-0 at the Presidents Cup, 2-1-0 when paired together. Oh, and at last year’s Ryder Cup, with each player making their debut, they were 2-0-0 in foursomes (alternate shot). Book ’em both.
Xander Schauffele congratulates teammate Patrick Cantlay on his putt on the sixth green during the Thursday foursome matches on day one of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 22, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Patrick Cantlay
Do I really need to make the case again? Fine. Cantlay rolled Shane Lowry, 4 and 2, in his Ryder Cup singles debut and beat Adam Scott, 3 and 2, last week at Quail Hollow. The dude just comes alive (as much as he can) in match play.
Team USA’s Patrick Cantlay acknowledges the crowd after making his putt on the fifth green during the foursomes match play of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
Max Homa
Not only is Homa a fan-favorite, he proved he can be relied upon with a dominant debut at the Presidents Cup. Homa went 4-0-0, made clutch putt after clutch putt and flipped his Sunday singles match against Tom Kim, winning 1 up after falling 3 down through 11 holes. He’s 16th on the current points list but would be a shocking omission from the team bound for Italy.
Team USA golfer Max Homa drinks champagne during the singles match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. (Photo: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)
Jordan Spieth
No. 18 on the points list, Spieth has staked his claim to be the new Captain America after his perfect 5-0-0 showing at the Presidents Cup. Next year would be the 29-year-old’s fifth appearance in the Ryder Cup, where he boasts a 8-7-3 record (0-3-1 in singles). Spieth had his swagger back at Quail Hollow, and he’ll look to take it to Rome.
Jordan Spieth of the United States Team holds the Presidents Cup for teammates during the closing ceremony after defeating the International Team during Sunday singles matches on day four of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 25, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Tony Finau
Big Tone went about his business to the tune of a 3-1-0 record (2-0-0 with Homa) at the Presidents Cup last week. He’s way down on the currents points list (No. 35) but that shouldn’t matter. The guys on the team like Finau. Plus, his 3-3-0 record in two previous Ryder Cups isn’t bad and could get a boost if he’s paired again with Homa.
Team USA golfer Tony Finau celebrates making his putt on the first green during the singles match play of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
Sam Burns
Davis Love III was clearly trying to get the pairing of Burns and Scheffler to mesh at the Presidents Cup, but it just didn’t work at Quail Hollow. The 26-year-old went winless like Scheffler, but did earn a pair of ties, including one in singles against Hideki Matsuyama. He’s got the talent and can score with the best of ’em, so don’t be surprised to see Burns make the trip and slotted with Scheffler next year.
Team USA golfer Sam Burns celebrates winning the 17th hole during the four-ball match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Final spot up for grabs
Those first 11 places seem like sure-fire selections. Unless a dark horse climbs into an automatic qualifier spot, expect them all to be in Italy. The final spot, however, is wide open.
The next two players currently on the bubble of automatic qualification who haven’t been mentioned are the likes of Kevin Kisner (who played in last week’s Presidents Cup but went 0-2-1) and Keegan Bradley (4-3-0 in his Ryder Cup career but hasn’t played since 2014).
Maybe captain Johnson goes for some experience with the likes of three-time Ryder Cupper Webb Simpson (an assistant captain for the Presidents Cup), or maybe even Daniel Berger (2-1-0 in his Ryder Cup debut in 2021). Perhaps we see another rookie in Cameron Champ, Davis Riley or Sahith Theegala.
With 365 days to go until the first shots are in the air, only time will tell who plays their way onto Team USA.
