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Ryder Cup 2016 Team Profile: UNITED STATES

Tom Dodd
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By Thomas Dodd

  • Rundown of Team USA for 2016 Ryder Cup, qualification achieved through points list and four wildcard picks
  • Davis Love III, who captains side for second successive time in America, has one wildcard pick remaining
  • US will attempt to win trophy for first time since 2008 at Hazeltine National from September 30 to October 2
RYDER CUP – Team USA prepare to claim back the Ryder Cup – we break down the team.

 

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Team USA

Captain: Davis Love III

Vice-Captains: Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods

Rickie Fowler

Ryder Cup Appearances: 3
Ryder Cup Record: 0-4-4
2016 Highlights: RU Waste Management Open, T8 Cadillac Championship, T10 Bridgestone Invitational
Possible Partner/s: Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker
About: One of Captain Love’s picks, Fowler could consider himself very lucky to be involved at Hazeltine. After a strong 2014, the young American has not kicked on as his potential suggested and he goes to Minnesota having never won a Ryder Cup point. Likeable and bubbly, the 27-year-old is nevertheless a strong addition to the dressing room.

 

J.B. Holmes

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2
Ryder Cup Record: 2-0-1
2016 Highlights: T4 Masters, 3rd Open Championship
Possible Partner/s: Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar
About: Holmes was a vital player for his country back in his only appearance in 2008, going undefeated for the week and securing the winning point in the Sunday singles. A solid major year earned him a captain’s selection, but he looked shaky and tired down the stretch at the BMW championship – his last pre-Hazeltine event. 

 

Dustin Johnson

Ryder Cup Appearances: 3
Ryder Cup Record: 4-3-0
2016 Highlights: W  US Open, Bridgestone Invitational & BMW Championship
Possible Partner/s: Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker
About: The form player in the side, if not the world. Johnson, as well as breaking his major duck at this year’s US Open in June, has also notched two large tournament victories and apart from a missed cut at the USPGA, seems to have been in contention pretty much every time he has teed it up since the start of the summer.

 

Zach Johnson

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4
Ryder Cup Record: 4-3-3
2016 Highlights: T7 USPGA Championship
Possible Partner/s: Jimmy Walker, J.B. Holmes
About: The other Johnson on the US team two-time major winner Zach has had a quiet year by comparison to his namesake. One top-10 at the USPGA may not seem much, but Johnson has become a reliable and steady source of points for the US since his first appearance at the K Club in 2006, and should never be counted out around the greens.

 

Brookes Koepka

Ryder Cup Appearances: 1
Ryder Cup Record: N/A Rookie
2016 Highlights: RU AT&T Byron Nelson, T4 USPGA Championship
Possible Partner/s: Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar
About: Despite throwing away a final round lead at the AT&T Byron Nelson, Koepka deserves his place in the side for the first time after a stellar year which has seen him adapt to life on the PGA Tour with full status. Another flamboyant youngster, Koepka should embrace the energetic home crowds and overcome any first tee nerves.

 

Matt Kuchar

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4
Ryder Cup Record: 4-5-2
2016 Highlights: T3 Bridgestone Invitational
Possible Partner/s: J.B. Holmes, Brookes Koepka
About: Already a gallery favourite, ‘Kuch’ is yet to be part of a successful American Ryder Cup team as he prepares to tee off in US colours for the fourth time. Another one off the back of a quiet year, the Georgia native didn’t contend in the majors and hasn’t won on the Tour for over two years. Should be a good bet for a couple of points, though.

 

Phil Mickelson

Ryder Cup Appearances: 11
Ryder Cup Record: 16-19-7
2016 Highlights: RU Open Championship, 5th Cadillac Championship
Possible Partner/s: Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler
About: By far and away the most experienced player at Hazeltine, the 46-year-old will need to call on all his years of experience to lead the line for the States. Despite knocking on the door regularly in the last few years, he is still to win a tournament since the 2013 Open Championship.

 

Ryan Moore

Ryder Cup Appearances: 1
Ryder Cup Record: N/A Rookie
2016 Highlights: Runner-Up TOUR Championship
Possible Partner/s: Rickie Fowler, Jimmy Walker
About: Picked after the final week of the season, Moore effectively became the first pick to reap the rewards of the ‘Billy Horschel rule’ which saw the US captain wait until the end of the Tour Championship. He should sleep well knowing he’s made a strong choice, as Moore proved his mettle by pushing Mcilroy all the way in the four play-off holes on Sunday night. He holed some clutch putts too, and should relish the electric Hazeltine atmosphere. 

 

Patrick Reed

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2
Ryder Cup Record: 3-1-0
2016 Highlights: Won Barclays,
Possible Partner/s: Jordan Spieth
About: The man famous for his ‘hush’ gesture at Gleneagles two years ago, Reed will relish having the support of an American-biased gallery at Hazeltine. Vocally patriotic and driven to represent his country, he’ll be itching to get in between the ropes in two weeks time. Five wins on Tour and counting, and they are getting bigger with every success.

 

Brandt Snedeker

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2
Ryder Cup Record: 1-2-0
2016 Highlights: RU Sony Open, T10 Masters
Possible Partner/s: Dustin Johnson
About: 2012 Fedex Cup winner Snedeker also arrives in Chaska title-less in 2016, as well a poor Ryder Cup record from his only appearance at Medinah in 2012. The fast-twitch putting stroke doesn’t often serve Snedeker well, but he’s coming into form at the right time and will be at East Lake next week looking to reclaim the end of year championships he four years ago.

 

Jordan Spieth

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2
Ryder Cup Record: 2-1-1
2016 Highlights: W Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Dean&DeLuca Invitational
Possible Partner/s: Patrick Reed
About: Already the great American hope, Spieth will play his first Ryder Cup as a major winner at Hazeltine, and will be another who feeds off the raucous home crowds. His match-made-in-heaven partnership with Patrick Reed will almost certainly continue, though in truth, the young man’s fantastic temperament and personality would see him match up with any of the other eleven men playing for the Stars and Stripes.

 

Jimmy Walker

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2
Ryder Cup Record: 1-1-3
2016 Highlights: Won USPGA Championship
Possible Partner/s: Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler
About: Walker played all five sessions at Gleneagles and only lost once. The USPGA Champion will tee it up at Hazeltine after reaching the final 30 in the Fedex Cup for a third straight year. Will provide a cool head in the locker room, and an ideal partner for the out-of-sorts Fowler.

 

The Ryder Cup starts on 30 September.

 

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