Ryder Cup: Steve Stricker makes captain's picks to complete Team USA lineup

Half of the team will be making their debuts at Whistling Straits at the September 24-26 tournament

US Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker announces his six captain's picks for the Ryder Cup later this month. Getty
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Team USA captain Steve Stricker on Wednesday completed his Ryder Cup lineup with the addition of four rookies, but there was no place for Patrick Reed.

Stricker filled out his 12-man team with Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth and Harris English. They were the next four in the Ryder Cup standings. The other two picks went to Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler.

Reed has a history of thriving in team events with his personality and short game. He has a 7-3-2 record in the previous three Ryder Cups and is undefeated in singles. But he has had a poor summer, and couldn’t play the final two qualifying events while hospitalised with pneumonia that made him fear for his life.

He returned to play the Tour Championship and tied for 17th in the actual score from the 30-man field.

Europe’s qualifying ends after this week’s BMW PGA Championship in England when Padraig Harrington announces his three captain’s picks.

The Ryder Cup takes place September 24-26 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Europe are not only defending champions, but have won nine of the last 12 editions dating to 1995.

The six automatic qualifiers for the United States were Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay.

Scheffler becomes the first American to be picked for his first Ryder Cup without having won on the PGA Tour since Rickie Fowler in 2010 at Wales. Scheffler has been a steady presence, was runner-up at the Dell Match Play in March and is No 21 in the world. He finished 14th in the Ryder Cup standings.

Most striking is the experience. Among the six who qualified, two-time major champion Morikawa and FedEx Cup champion Cantlay have never played in the Ryder Cup. The four picks who will make the Ryder Cup debuts are Schauffele, English, Berger and Scheffler.

Updated: September 08, 2021, 3:35 PM