The 2020 Ryder Cup would have been played on Friday. It is a biennial team competition that pits golfers from Europe and the United States. Due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, the event was postponed to 2021.
In just under one year, six of the U.S.'s top players will be able to earn their places on the team. Steve Stricker, the U.S. captain, will announce six captain's choices.
There are 364 days before the 2021 Ryder Cup's first match, but it's not too late to plan the 12 American players that will make up the American team.
Justin Thomas: lock. The 9-1-2 (W–L-T) doubles record of the Alabama alum in Ryder Cups is one of the most impressive in U.S. team history. In 2018, he beat Rory McIlroy to win the leadoff singles match, giving Americans an extra spark in their attempt to make a comeback. Many would argue that he is now the "Captain America," moniker, which was once held by Patrick Reed.
Dustin Johnson: Lock. His performance over the past few months could have been his best yet. The No. 1 player in the world. The world's No. 1 player has five consecutive top-6 finishes, almost won his second major at PGA Championship and earned $15 million for winning FedExCup. He was T5 and T7 in the majors at Whistling Straits. This is also the location of the 2021 Ryder Cup. Johnson is 6-2 in alternate shot matches in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, but 2-4 in better ball matches. Johnson will only be as good with the right partner.
Bryson de Chambeau: lock. He could be the No. He could be the No. 1 player in the world when the Cup rolls around. In 2020, he has participated in 16 tournaments and was in the top eight in ten of them. DeChambeau is the longest hitter on PGA Tour. He won Sunday's U.S. Open major and was a serious contender for the PGA Championship last month. After going 0-3 with three partners at the 2018 Ryder Cup, DeChambeau could be a huge asset off the tee. However, Stricker will need a partner to help him find one.
Brooks Koepka: lock. Koepka is currently recovering from a knee injury, but it should be completely healed by next year. He's proven he can improve his game for major events and has been paired with four different partners in nine career-long doubles matches.
Collin Morikawa: almost a lock. Morikawa, who is only 23 years old, is already a three time PGA Tour winner. He also holds the title of major champion. He is a consistent, unflappable player of iron and one the most respected in the world. It is extremely unlikely that he would leave the team.
Webb Simpson: almost a lock. Simpson should be on the team if Morikawa is. They are both within driving distance of each other, but their solid approach and all-around game make them easy captain's choices if they don't get automatic spots. They could both be great paired up with a bomber. Let them swing for the fences and, if they get erratic Simpson and Morikawa will bail them out. Simpson has had two partners in the past, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson. Stricker should be rewarded for his positive attitude and consistent play.
Xander Schauffele deserves a spot. The most important skill in golf is hitting the ball straight and far. Schauffele is one the top drivers in the world. He has no weaknesses in his game and has finished in the top 10 for more than half his majors starts. He has won against strong players at the TOUR Championship and Tournament of Champions, as well as the WGC-HSBC Champions. Patrick Cantlay and he formed a strong team at the 2019 Presidents Cup. However, he might have to partner with another player.
Tony Finau deserves a spot. Finau, despite only one win on the PGA Tour, is clearly a major-time player. Finau has been ranked in the top 20 of the world, and has had eight top-10 finishes in majors including one at Whistling Straits 2015. He is the longest driver on Tour and ranks third in strokes achieved: approach and 43rd around the green. Although his driving accuracy is a concern, if the team is intelligent, they will set it up so that the rough isn't too penal.
Daniel Berger deserves a spot, if he keeps up his good work. Berger, who nearly lost his PGA Tour card in 2019, while battling a hand injury to his right hand, has rebounded and is a top-10 player worldwide in 2020. Berger ranked among the top 40 in Tour driving, approach shots and short game. He also has four top-3 finishes from June. He will be able to make the first Ryder Cup team in 2021 if he maintains that pace.
Patrick Cantlay deserves a spot, if he takes it back up. We are considering Cantlay's 2020 season. He finished 34th in FedExCup standings, won more than $2million, and it is a very positive sign. It was still his worst season on the PGA Tour. He'll be a contender in big events, so Stricker will likely pay attention to him.
Matthew Wolff is high-risk, high-reward. He will be only 22 years old when the Cup is played. Additionally, he has only four career top-10s on PGA Tour. He has two majors in his career, so it appears he can improve his performance on larger stages. His ability to stay long off the tee is a big help. He could also be an asset to the team. He is the strong, emotional type that could work well alongside Simpson or Morikawa.
Patrick Reed, the last man on team. It was either Reed or Gary Woodland who won the race. In 2020, Reed was better than Woodland at driving, chipping and putting. He also competes in bigger events more often and has Ryder Cup experience. The Ryder Cup experience is something Reed has, as five of the 11 other members of the team have never participated in it.
Honorable mentions: Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner (great match play, but not in good form), Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, Cameron Champ, Will Zalatoris, Will Zalatoris (could become a top-50 player within a year but not yet a member the Tour), Will Zalatoris, Will Zalatoris (could have tremendous potential, but is not consistent enough), Tiger Woods, who will be 45 years old and best suited to a role as vice-captain).
How do we choose the pairings once we have 12 members of our team? This is the best way to divide up our soon-to be victorious U.S. team:
Thomas/Berger - Thomas is an incredible iron player. He has ranked in the top 4 on the Tour in strokes won: approach over the past three seasons. Berger, a top-ranked putter on the team, is what Thomas needs.
Koepka/Finau - These two bombers were paired twice in the 2018 Ryder Cup. Finau was disappointed that they could not rematch the pairing at the Presidents Cup last year, which Koepka missed because of injury.
Wolff/Morikawa - Wolff's wild swing and gregarious energy, and Morikawa's stoic and robotic play are as opposite as they can get. However, sometimes this can make a good pairing. It is appealing to think that Wolff could bomb a 350-yard drive in order to allow Morikawa to use shorter routes for his lethal iron game.
DeChambeau/Reed - It was hard to choose who to pair with these controversy magnets so why not combine them? They play practice rounds together and each believe the other is getting a bad reputation. Putting them together could cause European fans and opponents to spiral into madness. Reed's record in doubles matches is 0-7 when he is not paired with Jordan Spieth. It is important to find him a partner.
Johnson/Simpson, Both have the personality type that would work well with any person. Johnson can seem so casual that he doesn't know his partner, but Simpson's friendliness makes Simpson an easy pair.
Cantlay and Schauffele: It's impossible to go wrong with pairing two of the best all-around players around the world. They both rank among the top 60 in each of the four strokes gained statistics. They were paired together for the four matches in 2019 Presidents Cup going 2-2.
