"US Ryder Cup picks confirm it's the Boys Club" Tiger Woods ex coach reveals all
Tiger Woods' former golf coach Hank Haney believes Zach Johnson didn't want to take any LIV Golf players to the Ryder Cup.
Tiger Woods' former long-time golf coach Hank Haney believes Zach Johnson favoured "the boys club" with his choice of picks in the US Ryder Cup team.
Haney also considers Johnson did not want to pick any LIV Golf players, but could not avoid taking Brooks Koepka.
Johnson revealed his six captain's picks on Tuesday afternoon.
The two-time major champion chose Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Sam Burns.
Book the tickets, gentlemen
With his six Captain's Picks, @ZachJohnsonPGA selects:
@BKoepka
@JordanSpieth
@collin_morikawa
@RickieFowler
@JustinThomas34
@SamBurns66 pic.twitter.com/V7PbDlzaZZ— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) August 29, 2023
Johnson's most controversial pick was without question Thomas, especially given he missed six of the last 12 cuts on the PGA Tour to fail to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career earlier.
Fowler, Morikawa and Spieth were somewhat little surpises to make the team.
Burns was something of a surprise but his victory at the WGC Match Play earlier this season and close bond with World No.1 Scottie Scheffler likely played the biggest factor in his pick.
Then there was Koepka, which had already been revealed on Instagram by his wife Jena Sims on Monday afternoon.
Koepka will be the only LIV Golf player at the Ryder Cup in Rome next month.
Who will feel most unfortunate to miss out on the US Ryder Cup team?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 29, 2023
LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson both missed out, despite their past experience in the US Ryder Cup team.
Johnson dodged a very awkward LIV Golf question during his Ryder Cup press conference this afternoon.
He said he only went down to 25th on the US Ryder Cup standings to give players a call.
Dustin was ranked 40th and Bryson was 54th.
That particular comment has not sat well with many LIV Golf supporters and golf fans at large for that matter.
Two weeks ago, Johnson said he would "probably pick six PGA Tour players but not necessarily."
Other players who will no doubt feel disappointed to miss out on the US Ryder Cup team include Lucas Glover, Keegan Bradley and Cameron Young.
Bradley has told Golf Channel he feels "super bummed out."
Keegan Bradley reacts to his Ryder Cup snub.
Read more: https://t.co/qH29S1Xaye
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 29, 2023
Woods' former golf coach Haney reacted to the news on Twitter, but was not surprised in the slightest by the call.
Johnson favoured the "boys club" in the eyes of Haney.
It didn’t matter who Zach Johnson picked the USA team will be heavily favored but those picks confirm it’s the Boys Club.
— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) August 29, 2023
Haney considers Johnson's team just "didn't want to take any LIV players but couldn't avoid taking Brooks."
Not surprising at all, they didn’t want to take any LIV players but couldn’t avoid taking Brooks https://t.co/MfRasc5QKt
— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) August 29, 2023
Woods and Haney worked together between 2004 and 2010.
During that period, Woods won six major titles.
Haney and Woods went their separate ways when Woods withdrew from the 2010 Players Championship.
Woods has since gone on to win only one more major since leaving Haney, of course coming memorably with a 15th career major at the 2019 Masters.
PGA Tour winner BLASTS Zach Johnson's decision to pick Justin Thomas for Ryder Cup!
It's all kicking off on social media...
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 29, 2023
One PGA Tour winner blasted Johnson's decision to take Thomas, who he considers a "total liability."
Johnson said he is taking Thomas to the Ryder Cup because "he was born for this."
"You just don't leave JT at home," said Johnson.
What do you make of Johnson's six picks? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
