Fred Couples Defends Justin Thomas Ryder Cup Selection

Fred Couples defended Justin Thomas’s selection to the U.S. Ryder Cup Team despite his form during the 2022-23 PGA Tour Season.

Couples is serving as Vice Captain for the Americans this year as the U.S. looks to win its first Ryder Cup on European soil in 30 years.

Couples said:

“I think the JT thing is the strongest pick. That was a no-brainer. The analytics would say no, the way he plays golf, said yes.”

Thomas has struggled significantly this season. The two-time PGA Champion suffered perhaps the toughest year in his Tour career, missing the FedEx Cup Playoffs entirely and finishing the year with just three Top 10s in 20 events played.

Justin Thomas was chosen by Zach Johnson to represent the U.S. in Rome.

Fred Couples explains how JT’s past Ryder Cup experience was factored into the decision. Catch more of Fred’s Ryder Cup insight Tuesday at 10pm ET!@fredcouplesgolf | @ZachJohnsonPGA | @JustinThomas34 pic.twitter.com/dgHG57M4Xf

— SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR) August 29, 2023

However, despite Thomas’s struggles, American Captain Zach Johnson chose to include JT in the American squad, snubbing players like Keegan Bradley, who won twice on Tour this year, including one elevated event, and Cameron Young, who was projected to win a Captain’s Pick spot due to his 9th place position in the Ryder Cup standings.

Bradley was ranked ahead of Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, and Thomas in the standings.

Young was in front of all three, as well as Collin Morikawa, who also made the team.

Couples also commented on the absence of these players, especially Young, who Couples said would be in Rome next month competing for the Americans:

“I’ve got 50 texts today, why two or three guys aren’t on the team. And I don’t have an answer for that. The only answer I have is, this is the team, and the team has spoken. And if the team likes another guy a little bit better than that guy who didn’t win six tournaments and do all this, then, then no one has a problem with any of it.”

Couples is always going to stick up for his Captain and the players he will lead to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club next month. If the picks would have been the other way, we’d be hearing Couples sing a different tune.

Cover Image via Golf Digest