Plenty for Zach Johnson to ponder in Ryder Cup conundrum

Six captains' picks to be made next Monday

USA celebrate with the Ryder Cup after victory against Europe at Whistling Straits two years ago. Picture: Anthony Behar/PA 

The American team isn’t looking at all like what it was expected to after the 12-man roster that demolished Europe 19-9 in 2021. The bones of that roster seemed so young and stable that it would form the foundation for the near future.

Only three of those 2021 players, however, were able to land automatic spots on Johnson’s team bound for Rome – world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and the formidable partnership of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. The remaining three qualifiers are rookies, two of which were on nobody’s radar as recently as April.