Ryder Cup Odds Favor US Following Zach Johnson’s Controversial Justin Thomas Pick

Posted on: August 29, 2023, 04:27h. 

Last updated on: August 29, 2023, 05:30h.

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The US Ryder Cup team was officially determined on Tuesday, with captain Zach Johnson choosing Brooks Koepka, Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas as his six captain’s picks. Europe’s captain, Luke Donald, will unveil his six captain’s selections on Monday, September 4.

Though the European team has yet to be finalized, oddsmakers in both the US and Europe, where the biennial showdown attracts much wagering action, are already deeming the US squad as the betting front-runner.

Since the US is the defending Ryder Cup champion, they only need a tie to retain the coveted trophy. The US, however, hasn’t won the Cup on foreign soil since the 1993 match at The Belfry where the Americans eeked out a 15-13 point win over the Europeans. Tom Watson captained that squad.

European oddsmakers agree that the US looks good on paper. William Hill, a leading bookmaker in the UK, has the US favored at -140. Leading Irish bookie Paddy Power has it a bit closer, with the US at -120.

Johnson’s captain’s picks joined the six automatic qualifiers who played their way onto the team. They are Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, and Patrick Cantlay.

The Ryder Cup will be played at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy, from September 29 through October 1. The six automatic qualifiers for the Europeans include Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and Tyrrell Hatton.

JT Pick Causes Uproar

Though the betting experts believe Johnson rounded out his team adequately with his six picks, many golf fans in the US became enraged following his decision to pick Thomas.

JT, as Thomas is affectionally known, is one of the more popular players in the US. But his down year, which saw him miss three of the four major cuts and miss the FedExCup Playoffs, resulted in many fans saying Johnson should have picked a hotter stick.

Bradley won the Travelers in June and finished T9 in the FedExCup race.

Cameron Young was also overlooked despite finishing 9th in the US Ryder Cup standings. That was four spots ahead of Fowler, three ahead of Burns, and six ahead of Thomas.

‘Boys Club’ Allegations

Many critics of Johnson’s picks said it’s further evidence that golf is divided and that the PGA Tour is run by a so-called “boys club.”

Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’ former swing coach, said as much on Tuesday. Thomas is one of Tiger’s closest friends and many believe Woods had a strong influence on Johnson’s picks.

“Those picks confirm it’s the Boys Club,” Haney said on X.

Bradley also weighed in.

I thought I put together a really good year. I’ve always been an outsider in the sport but I have tried to get closer to the guys I thought would be on the team. I feel like moving forward I’m going to have to automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup,” Bradley told the Golf Channel.

He added that Thomas “is a generational talent,” and that he will still be “pulling for the US team.”

Glover wrote a simpler message on X.

“Thanks for all the support. I’m very grateful to everyone for continuing to believe in me,” he posted with the hashtag “#Year20.”

Freddie Couples, one of Johnson’s co-captains who is also one of Woods’ closest friends, said just last month that “Cam Young will be in Italy.” Johnson said the phone call telling him otherwise was especially difficult, but Young handled it with “nothing but class.”