Following a seemingly decisive weekend at the Northern Trust, four Americans are clear favourites to be Jim Furyk’s captain’s picks
As things stand, the eight names set to automatically qualify for the USA Ryder Cup team are Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson.
With Tiger Woods’ (best price 1/25) return to form and Phil Mickelson (1/12) a stalwart in the American Ryder Cup ranks, those two names are all but confirmed ahead of Jim Furyk’s initial squad announcement on Tuesday 3rd September.
Assuming that’s the case, there are only two spaces left for the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, Matt Kuchar, Xander Schauffele, Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker and Patrick Cantlay. The bookies believe that DeChambeau’s victory at the Northern Trust last weekend has cemented his spot, whilst second-placed Finau will make up the fourth and final captain’s pick.
It will be interesting to see whether Furyk will be happy to go with both DeChambeau and Finau, or whether he’ll opt to give Kuchar – who was seen as a lock a month ago – his fifth successive Ryder Cup appearance. If DeChambeau and Finau get the nod it will be the first time multiple US rookies have been picked as wildcards since 2008. Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and J.B. Holmes were picked on that occasion.
