SORRY BURNS, NO CUP POINTS FOR ‘W’
Sam Burns won for the second time this year on the PGA Tour, just 13 days after Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker broke the news that Burns would not be part of the U.S. team.
Burns can’t start earning points for the 2023 team until next year.
And if history is any indication, the U.S. team will feature plenty of newcomers. The Americans steamrolled Europe for the largest margin of victory — 19-9 — since the modern era began in 1979 by expanding Britain and Ireland to include continental Europe.
The U.S. team that won at Hazeltine by a 17-11 margin had only six players make it back to the team that went to France in 2018. That’s not unusual. Dating to 1981, there have been only six Ryder Cups where more than six Americans made it back to the next team.
One question is, who would be the six not at Whistling Straits?
Among those who missed out, besides Burns, were Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson and the slumping Rickie Fowler. Matthew Wolff figured to be on the 2021 team when he tied for fourth and was runner-up in consecutive majors in 2020, but he went into a tailspin with his game and emotions. As for newcomers? Remember, Collin Morikawa was still in college when the previous Ryder Cup was played.
Perhaps the better question is, who won’t make it back?
The 1999 and 2012 teams had eight returning players. The two constants were Phil Mickelson, who set a record by playing in 12 successive teams, and Jim Furyk, who played nine in a row.
For now, it’s hard to imagine a U.S. team without Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, and Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau for years to come.
Then again, Spieth would have been left off the team if not for the one-year postponement because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Caddie movements
Two major champions are starting the new season with different caddies.
Ted Scott had been with two-time Masters champion
Bubba Watson his entire career, and they have decided to part ways. Watson said Scott “deserves more credit than anyone can imagine” for helping him on and off the golf course.
Jimmy Johnson is no longer with Thomas, the 2017 PGA Champion and FedEx Cup champion. No reason was given for their split, except for Thomas saying he did not fire Johnson. Thomas said Jim “Bones” Mackay, the former longtime caddie for Mickelson, will work for him. Johnson was the second full-time caddie Thomas had as a pro.
Ryder Cup reunion
Stricker and Padraig Harrington are competing again, this time with golf clubs.
Harrington turned 50 on Aug. 31, three weeks before the Ryder Cup. He makes his PGA Tour Champions debut this week in the Constellation Furyk & Friends Invitational at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla. Stricker also is in the field.