JOHNSON URGES FOCUS ON NEXT GENERATION

United States’ Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson has played down the weakened field in this week’s John Deere Classic and urged fans to watch the next generation of star players.

World No 58 Webb Simpson is the topranked player at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, while the Horizon Irish Open on the DP World Tour has attracted five of the top 50.

The second LIV Golf event in Oregon can boast eight top-50 players with the likes of former major champions Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka having joined the Saudi-backed circuit during or after its opening event at Centurion Club.

DeChambeau claimed his maiden PGA Tour title in the 2017 John Deere Classic and Jordan Spieth is a two-time winner, but Johnson said he understands the demands of a congested schedule.

“There’s a lot on the horizon with obviously The Open Championship and then you throw in the FedEx Cup play-offs and then the Presidents Cup and that sort of thing,” Johnson said. “The individuals we’re talking about, I’m not saying they won’t ever come here, but time off is needed. That’s one way of putting that.

“What would I say to the fans? (It) is the next guys that are playing on some of these cup teams are probably in the field right now.

“That’s what I would say. Whether they’re young pros or even some veteran guys that have been there before.

“I think we’ll see some guys surface and make headlines in major championships and on teams. I mean it just happens.

“I think if you were to ask the golfing public out there that is somewhat golf literate, twoand-a-half years ago did they really know who Scottie Scheffler was?

“I mean we picked him at the Ryder Cup last year. For all intents and purposes he might have been our sixth pick, but 12th man. I don’t think we have to question who he is now.

“So that would be my response. There’s a number of Scottie Schefflers out there and my guess is there could be a few in the field.”