PGA Tour winner BLASTS Justin Thomas Ryder Cup pick: "...a total liability!"
"I do not understand?!" - PGA Tour winner believes Zach Johnson has made a bad call on taking Justin Thomas to Ryder Cup.
One-time PGA Tour winner Mark Lye has blasted Zach Johnson's decision to make Justin Thomas one of his six captain's picks in the US Ryder Cup team.
Johnson named Thomas as one of his six captain's picks on Tuesday afternoon.
He also picked Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Sam Burns.
BREAKING: Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka among Zach Johnson's six captain's picks for the US Ryder Cup team pic.twitter.com/0JT40uJI8U
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 29, 2023
Koepka incidentally will be the only LIV Golf player competing in the Ryder Cup.
Jena Sims, Koepka's wife, gave the game away about his pick on Monday afternoon.
@ZachJohnsonPGA's Captain's Picks are in @RyderCupUSA pic.twitter.com/S8EGMdDpz6
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 29, 2023
Players who will no doubt feel unfortunate to miss out on the US Ryder Cup team include Cameron Young, Keegan Bradley and Lucas Glover.
Many on LIV Golf will consider Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson unfortunate, too.
Who will feel most unfortunate to miss out on the US Ryder Cup team?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 29, 2023
But it's the subject of Thomas earning a pick in the team that has caused most debate among golf fans on social media.
That is because JT has endured his worst season to date on the PGA Tour.
As a result of missing six of his last 12 cuts on the PGA Tour, Thomas failed to qualify to the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the first time.
Thomas has not won a tournament around the world since capturing his second US PGA Championship in May 2022.
But it would appear Thomas' close bond with players in the US Ryder Cup team, as well as his enviable Ryder Cup record of 16-5-2 was enough to convince captain Johnson to hand him a pick in his third straight side.
On making Thomas one of his six captain's picks, Johnson said:
“Our emotional leader. He has been the heart and soul of Team USA. In my mind he was born for this and you just don’t leave JT at home.”
The decision to take Thomas to the Ryder Cup has not sat well with former PGA Tour winner Mark Lye, though.
Lye, who won the 1983 Bank of Boston Classic, has blasted Johnson's decision to take Thomas to Rome.
The 70-year-old American, who finished tied sixth in the 1984 Masters, considers JT a "total liability" and someone who "has not earned a spot in any way, shape or form".
Lye was tweeting in response to Dan Rapaport, who considers JT was a solid call by Johnson.
I DO NOT understand why JT is on this team…he’s a total liability, as has NOT earned a spot in any way, shape, or form.
— mark lye (@letitflye) August 29, 2023
Rapaport tweeted:
Lye replied:
In agreement with Lye, a golf fan tweeted:
Lye responded by comparing the pick to when Lanny Wadkins selected Curtis Strange ahead of the 1985 Ryder Cup.
Yes…makes total sense, Zach is leaving himself wide open on this one….kinda like when Lanny picked Curtis
— mark lye (@letitflye) August 29, 2023
Strange took 2.5 pts from a possible four in 1985, but the USA lost 16.5-11.5 to Europe at The Belfry.
What do you make of Johnson's six picks? Does it surprise you that Thomas has been given a pick? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
