Ryder Cup: JT, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka shockingly sitting to begin

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas will start the Ryder Cup on the bench.

So will five-time main champion Brooks Koepka.

On Thursday night, U.S. Captain Zach Johnson revealed his pairings for the morning foursomes on the opening ceremony. Spieth, Thomas, and Koepka had been omitted.

“The gist of it’s we’ve acquired 12 guys,” Johnson mentioned. “Sadly, I can’t play all 12 every session. So, in some unspecified time in the future, someone’s acquired to sit down. This golf course calls for rather a lot out of you bodily.”

Wyndham Clark, who has supplied bulletin board materials for Crew Europe, will even sit out the primary session.

“I believe it’s a great scenario the place you don’t essentially wish to play everyone all 5 classes,” Johnson added.

“I’m not saying that’s what we’re going to do, however you’re taking every thing under consideration. Not solely that, however the eight guys I’ve down on paper are those that we really feel finest put us within the place to get off to an ideal begin, clearly.”

These eight gamers embrace world primary Scottie Scheffler and Ryder Cup rookies Max Homa, Brian Harman, and Sam Burns.

Scheffler and Burns will face Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton to start the Ryder Cup.

“We’re very assured in placing Scottie and Sam out,” Johnson mentioned of his opening pairing. “You’ve acquired some expertise in there, and also you’ve acquired some chemistry in there as properly. These guys wish to get after it, and I’m assured they will try this.”

quarter-hour after the primary group tees off, Homa and Harman will begin their match towards Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg.

Then, Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa tackle Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka.

Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay will then battle Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood to conclude the opening foursomes.

“I’m very assured in my eight,” Johnson mentioned Thursday. “All these guys I’ve on my facet, I do know they’re up towards a really bona fide opponent, all eight of ours versus all eight of theirs.”

Spieth and Thomas’ omission from the opening foursome matches is a shock, particularly contemplating that U.S. Vice Captain Fred {Couples} mentioned they may “in all probability play in 4 matches” on the Golf Channel earlier this week.

Picture by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America through Getty Pictures

This duo has performed six matches collectively within the Ryder Cup.

In 2018, when Thomas made his maiden look, Spieth and Thomas posted a 3-1 report. They misplaced their first foursomes match to Francesco Molinari and Fleetwood, 5 & 4, however rallied on Saturday to defeat Ian Poulter and McIlroy 4 & 3.

Thomas was the lone brilliant spot for Crew USA in France, profitable 4 factors for the crimson, white, and blue whereas the Europeans dominated.

Three years later, Thomas and Spieth went 1-1 collectively at Whistling Straits to assist the U.S. regain the Cup.

As for Koepka, the previous Florida State Seminole boasts a 2-2 report in alternate shot play.

That features a loss to Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose in 2018, the final time the Ryder Cup was held on European soil. Stenson and Rose defeated Koepka and Dustin Johnson, 2 & 1.

However Koepka—like Thomas and Spieth—must wait to make their debuts this yr.

The 2023 Ryder Cup begins Friday at 1:30 a.m. ET on USA Community.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.