Johnson backs his rookies while Donald plans to play everyone

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Team Europe Captain Luke Donald (centre) with vice-captains Jose Maria Olazabal and Edoardo Molinari (left) on the 1st at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome, Italy, ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup. 

Thursday was as much about who is in as it was who is out. After Zach Johnson announced his selection, he walked into his press conference and was immediately asked different versions of the same question: Why no Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas?

“The gist of it is we have got 12 guys,” the U.S. skipper said bluntly. “Unfortunately, I can't play all 12 each session. So, at some point somebody has got to sit. It is a golf course that demands a lot out of you physically.

“I think it is an ideal situation where you don't necessarily want to play everybody all five sessions. I'm not saying that is what we're going to do, but you're taking everything into account. Not only that but the eight guys I have down on paper are the ones that we feel best put us in the position to get off to a great start obviously.” 

He stressed it is not about their form. They are both playing great. Johnson will send out three rookies early between Sam Burns and pair Brian Harman and Max Homa. Burns is with his close friend Scottie Scheffler. Homa has team experience and was the first President’s Cup rookie since Stewart Cink in 2000 to go 4-0-0.

Add it all up and Johnson had no reservations about throwing them in.

“History will show, and you can look it up, that being a rookie is almost irrelevant. The way we look at it, he hasn't played in a Ryder Cup, but he knows team matches. He understands the elements of what is going on.

“Those two guys bond and mesh so well together on and off the golf course that it is a very natural fit, both as a tandem and for the golf course.

“Zero hesitation. Again, the stats will show that being a Ryder Cup rookie in some regards is actually, well, I don't know. I'm not going to get in the weeds, but it is not a bad thing.” 

Speaking of stats, for the last three Ryder Cups, each European captain has used the Twenty First Group for their data analysis. Now that Edoardo Molinari is on board as vice-captain, Luke Donald has opted to use the Italian’s own company instead.

Thus, the Twenty First Group is free to share their remarkably insightful breakdowns with the public. Data scientist Luke Carter broke down the most optimal Team USA foursomes and the Spieth/Thomas partnership was not in the top 100 most optimal. “But data only tells one side of the story,” he added. His probabilities breakdown also indicated 2:2 is the most likely result from the morning.

“They're not part of my consulting equation, so I don't have a comment other than more power to the Twenty First Group,” Johnson replied when asked about the analysis.

Meanwhile, Europe’s selection went as expected. Rory McIlroy plays with Tommy Fleetwood. Combined they have collected 19 Ryder Cup points. Their heavyweight bout is against the team of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who garnered a 2-0-0 foursomes record in 2021 when they débuted at Whistling Straits.

Shane Lowry will play with rookie Sepp Straka. The pair played together in the same practice group on Monday, yet the plans were in place long before that.

“It is very close to my (long-term) plan,” said Donald. “I am not quite sure. The last few weeks has been many iterations of pairings and stuff. I think probably last week this would have been what I had in mind and I've seen great play from these guys and from the other four and the whole 12 over these last few days. Nothing that would have changed my plans, to be honest.

“Again, we had a pretty good plan in place. It was always going to be a plan that could change, but I didn't really need to because the guys are playing fantastic golf.” 

It has been a long week. Anticipation has been building for a long time and at this stage just about everyone is ready for the golf to begin. Perhaps that is why both captains were hesitant to give too much away on the eve of the tournament. Poker faces and brief responses. Donald was completely deadpan when asked if his American wife has divided loyalties.

Fire and fire duo Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have been thrown together. Who will tee off?

“You'll have to wait until 7:35am (Italian time).” 

Johnson was similarly cagey. Will all 12 players play on the opening day? “They are going to be playing Marco Simone this week.” Same question to Donald, who wasn’t willing to give much more.

“That is my plan right now, but plans can change.” 

We get the message. The time for talking is over.