Scottie Scheffler Weighs in on Brooks Koepka’s Ryder Cup Chances

Scottie Scheffler has undoubtedly been the best golfer in the world over the past two years.

After securing the top spot for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Scheffler will be joined by Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, and Xander Schauffele, who have also landed automatic spots.

Embed from Getty Images

But U.S. Team Captain Zach Johnson has a few days left before he will finalize his final six Captain’s Picks. Among the notables that could potentially be selected is none other than Brooks Koepka, the 2023 PGA Champion who captured his fifth Major Championship earlier this year at Oak Hill Country Club.

Embed from Getty Images

Koepka has battled injuries for the past few seasons and ultimately defected to LIV Golf in a move that even he said would have been tougher given he hadn’t dealt with persistent knee issues that had not only derailed his golf game but put his entire future in jeopardy.

This year, Koepka reclaimed his previous form and had narrowed in on another automatic Ryder Cup spot despite plenty of distractions, including the birth of his son and the continuing saga between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

Koepka fell out of his automatic spot last week following the BMW Championship but is just 29 points outside of the sixth spot, which is held by Schauffele. This is the equivalent of roughly $29,000 in winnings on the PGA Tour, and let’s keep in mind that Koepka has not played a Tour event all season.

Scheffler seems to think that it is a no-brainer for Koepka to be on the team:

🚨Sounds like Brooks will be on the Ryder Cup team: “If he played one tournament on TOUR I think he would have probably been on the team.” —Scottie Scheffler pic.twitter.com/CKAf0suhuD

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 23, 2023

Scheffler said:

“I looked at the points list the other night, I think he was thirty points shy? Which I think is the equivalent of like $30,000 throughout the year. So, I think if he would have played one tournament throughout the year, he would have been on the team.”

Koepka would be a wonderful addition to the U.S. squad, which will likely be void of names like Justin Thomas, although there is still hope for JT after a rough year. Thomas sports one of the best records in Ryder Cup history, so he would be an ideal addition as well, despite his struggles in 2023.

But Koepka’s play is on another level when he brings his health to the table. He hasn’t struggled with nagging injuries all year, and given that, without a PGA Tour appearance this year, he is just 29 points outside of the automatic spots, I think he is well deserving of a trip to Rome and a chance to defend the U.S. title that was won at Whistling Straits two years ago.

Cover Image via Bunkered