Harris English: "I don't want to be a pick" for the US Ryder Cup team

Harris English sets his sights firmly on a debut Ryder Cup appearance next month as he continues his blistering form at TPC Southwind. 

Andy Roberts's picture
Fri, 6 Aug 2021
Harris English: "I want to make the US Ryder Cup team on my own"

Harris English continued his impressive form by firing a stunning 8-under 62 to take the early lead at the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational, and then signalled his intent to play his way straight into the United States Ryder Cup team for the first time in his career.

English currently lies ninth in the US Ryder Cup standings for their clash against Europe on home soil at Whistling Straits at the end of September, where only the top six players receive automatics into captain Steve Stricker's 12-man side. 

While a skipper's pick would seem inevitable for English given he finished third at the US Open and then won the Travelers Championship the week after for his fourth career PGA Tour title, the in-form American wants to leave nothing to chance.

That was even more evident after English's blistering round of 62 on day one at TPC Southwind, which saw him go out in 28 shots (his lowest ever 9-hole score on the PGA Tour) and stretch into a two-shot lead on 8-under par. 

 

 

"Yeah, it's been on my mind for a while," said English in response to a journalist's question about making the US Ryder Cup for the first time in his career.

"I know I've got to continue to play golf. I want to make the team on my own, I don't want to be a pick."

As it stands for the automatic picks, Collin Morikawa leads the US Ryder Cup standings ahead of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and new Olympic champion Xander Schauffele. 

Then comes Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, English, Patrick Cantlay, Daniel Berger and Tony Finau rounding out the top 12 players.

Webb Simpson lies 13th ahead of Scottie Scheffler, Jason Kokrak, Billy Horschel, US PGA champion Phil Mickelson, Max Homa, Sam Burns and Will Zalatoris. 

Rickie Fowler is way down in 41st place in the standings. 

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