Exciting Ryder Cup Opener: Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns Lead the American Team

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have formed an outstanding partnership for the United States team in recent Ryder Cups, but they will be sitting on the sideline Friday morning for the opening session at Marco Simone Golf Club.

U.S. team captain Zach Johnson has decided to rest Spieth and Thomas, even though they have an impressive 8-2-0 record when playing together in international events. Thomas has struggled with his form throughout the PGA Tour season and missed the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time in his career. He needed one of Johnson’s six captain’s picks to secure his spot on the team for the third time.

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns will be taking on Spain’s Jon Rahm and England’s Tyrrell Hatton in the first foursomes (alternate shot) match. Scheffler has claimed six victories on the PGA Tour in the past two seasons, but he has faced challenges with his putting in 2023. Burns, on the other hand, ranks fourth on tour in total putting and seventh in one-putt percentage (43.83%).

“Scottie and I have played a lot of golf together, and we are excited to team up and try to secure the first point for our team,” said Burns.

Thomas has been one of the American team’s top players in international events, boasting a 6-2-1 record in the Ryder Cup. Spieth has accumulated an 8-7-3 record in the biennial international tournament.

“We have 12 guys on the team,” Johnson explained. “Unfortunately, I cannot play all 12 in each session. This golf course demands a lot physically.

“I mean, it is an ideal situation where we do not necessarily want to play everybody in all five sessions. I am not saying that is what we are going to do, but we are considering everything. The eight guys that I have chosen are the ones we believe will give us a great start.”

Despite Thomas’ struggles this season, Johnson reassured that his decision was not based on the current form of either player.

“There are many factors that I prefer to keep internal,” Johnson stated. “However, I have complete confidence in these eight players and the abilities of Jordan and Justin. I understand they have been a great duo, but the decision is not based on their form. They are playing exceptionally well.”

Brian Harman, the winner of the Open Championship, and Max Homa, a six-time PGA Tour champion, both Ryder Cup rookies, will go up against Norway’s Viktor Hovland and former Texas Tech standout Ludvig Aberg in the second match. Hovland secured two victories during the FedEx Cup playoffs, including the Tour Championship, and is currently ranked fourth in the world. Aberg will also be making his Ryder Cup debut.

In the third match, Ryder Cup veteran Rickie Fowler and two-time major champion Collin Morikawa will face Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Austria’s Sepp Straka, another European first-timer. Fowler will be making his fifth Ryder Cup appearance, his first since 2018. He will be aiming to improve his 3-7-5 overall record in the event, which includes a 1-3-2 record in foursomes.

Prominent American pairing Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will compete in the final match against Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and England’s Tommy Fleetwood. Cantlay and Schauffele have a flawless 5-0 record in foursomes matches in their previous three appearances in international team events, including two Presidents Cup competitions and one previous Ryder Cup.

Cantlay and Schauffele hold the tournament record for foursomes with a 9-under 63 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April. They were victorious in that team event back in 2022.

McIlroy, currently the world’s second-ranked golfer, has been a key figure for the European team in recent years. He was emotionally distraught during the American team’s dominant 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in September 2021, where he only managed to secure one point out of a possible four. It was the largest margin of victory in the Ryder Cup for the U.S. team.

As captain of the home team, Europe’s Luke Donald is taking a gamble by starting with foursomes for the first time since 1993, which interestingly was the last time the Americans triumphed in a Ryder Cup held outside of the United States. The U.S. team has not won on European soil since their 15-13 victory at the Belfry in Warwickshire, England.

Since 2002, the U.S. team has not emerged victorious in the foursomes on European turf. In the past ten foursomes sessions, dating back to 2012, their record stands at 4-4-2.

The teams will engage in four four-ball (best ball) matches on Friday afternoon.