Ex-PGA Tour pro backs Patrick Reed to make Ryder Cup team ahead of Bryson DeChambeau

Former PGA Tour pro Johnson Wagner has backed Patrick Reed to make the 2027 United States Ryder Cup team ahead of Bryson DeChambeau.

Reed has represented the United States against Europe on three occasions, compiling a 7-3-2 record, and remains unbeaten in singles.

But he has not played in the biennial competition since Jim Furyk's team was comfortably defeated by Europe at Le Golf National in Paris in 2018.

DeChambeau has made three Ryder Cup appearances. 

He played alongside Reed in France, played a starring role in the United States' 2021 victory at Whistling Straits and was also part of Keegan Bradley's team that almost pulled off an improbable comeback at Bethpage Black last September.

The two-time U.S. Open champion has a 3-6-2 record in the competition and, like Reed, was not part of the most recent United States Presidents Cup team.

The two players find themselves at interesting points in their careers.

Reed left LIV Golf in January and has already won twice on the DP World Tour. The Race to Dubai leader will return to the PGA Tour soon and could challenge for an automatic qualification place on Furyk's team.

DeChambeau, meanwhile, faces an uncertain future as he does not know what playing opportunities will be available should LIV Golf fold.

"I do think he's on the team," Wagner told CBS of Reed.

"Unfortunately for him, I think he's got to be in the top six, because I don't think he's going to get a captain's pick if he's not, because there's nobody in the top six that's going to go bat for Patrick Reed.

"I think the key is finding the right partner for him."

Wagner questioned whether DeChambeau can be considered certain to make the United States team for Adare Manor, pointing to the uncertainty surrounding his position over the next year.

"Who knows? Maybe he's just going to be a YouTuber like us," Wagner said. "I don't know that he's a lock.

"I don't think if he would have been playing the PGA Tour and had the season he had this year, I don't think that he was a lock for this Presidents Cup team.

"He is so up in the air. He could be a top-10 player, or he could be the 150th-ranked player in the world by the next Ryder Cup. I have no idea."

The 2027 Ryder Cup will be played at Adare Manor from September 17-19.

Snedeker sends warning to Luke Donald

Wagner's comments come days after United States Presidents Cup captain Bradnt Snedeker issued a warning to European skipper Luke Donald. 

Speaking after the U.S. completed a sensational final-day comeback against Geoff Ogilvy's International team, the American said his players were united and capable of succeeding in team golf. 

"I think we're all tired of this narrative that we don't care about each other, that we don't know how to play team golf," Snedeker said.

"I think this proves it. You don't come back the way we did if these guys haven't all bought into each other.

"This team is going to be a problem in Ireland. It's going to be a problem."