29 August 2023 , 21:54
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Team USA Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson has defended his decision to select Justin Thomas, after a number of big-name players missed out on a spot in the 12-man team.
Johnson announced his six captain's picks on Monday, with Thomas given the nod alongside Brooks Koepka, Colin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Sam Burns. The 30-year-old's possible selection heading into Johnson's announcement proved to be a huge talking point.
Thomas has announced himself as a key figure in the American setup following the last Ryder Cup and President Cup, and was a guarantee to be included in this year's team heading into 2023. But in recent months though the two-time major champion did his chances no favours, having struggled for form.
Thomas endured a tough finish to the season, missing five cuts in his last eight events which cost him a place in season-ending FedEx Cup playoffs. Despite the poor run in form, Johnson opted for experience after confirming Thomas' spot in the team on Monday.
Explaining why he chose to include the 30-year-old, he said: "Justin Thomas is one of the most talented players on the PGA Tour in my opinion. "He has, without question, been the heart and soul of Team USA. He is our emotional leader - he leads by example. He has a fantastic overall Ryder Cup record and his passion for the Ryder Cup is evident. He was born for this and you just don’t leave JT out.”
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Justin Thomas has struggled for form in recent months (Getty Images)Thomas' fortune of course come at the expense of a number of other hopefuls, including some of his former teammates. Johnson's 12-man team includes just one LIV Golf star in Koepka, with the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson not included in the setup.
DeChambeau staked his claim earlier this month, after carding an historic round of 58 to secure his maiden LIV title at Greenbrier. The American's emphatic sub-60 round appeared to be too little too late for captain Johnson though, who decided to leave DeChambeau out of the fold this time around.
For the captain's namesake Dustin, it was more the importance of experience that he was relying on to make it to Rome, having announce himself as U.S. Ryder Cup stalwart in recent years. Whilst it was enough for Thomas, the same could not be said for the LIV star, who will miss his first Ryder Cup for the first time since 2014.