“His resume speaks for itself,” US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson PRAISES 2x major winner Justin Thomas despite recent struggles

US Ryder Captain Zach Johnson has praised the qualities of Justin Thomas, who is struggling to find his form.

“His resume speaks for itself,” US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson PRAISES 2x major winner Justin Thomas despite recent struggles

Zach Johnson (L) and Justin Thomas (R)

The preparation for the final few golf events is well and truly underway. Following the conclusion of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first leg of the FedEx Cup was done. The top players are now getting ready for the second leg. However, not every major player is taking part in it, as seen with Justin Thomas. The former world number one has had a struggling year and missed the playoffs.

The other major issue concerning him is the Ryder Cup. The biennial tournament between the US and Europe sees the top players compete against each other. Qualifications for this competition are also underway. His poor form has raised several questions. Captain Zach Johnson, a good friend of Thomas, now faces the tough choice of whether to pick him or not. He has praised the qualities of the two-time major champion.

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Speaking at the golf subpar podcast, Johnson mentioned how he is in contact with Thomas. He praised his character and skills and claimed that he is “great in the locker room.” Johnson further highlighted the excellent career Thomas has had.

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“His resume speaks for itself,” the 47-year-old said. Johnson emphasized that there are other factors and things he has to see before making any final decision. “But I also gotta look at all the other factors involved,” he added. Thomas could be part of the squad if Johnson and his vice captains pick him for the upcoming event.

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Players that have qualified for the Ryder Cup this year

Zach Johnson and Luke Donald
Zach Johnson (L) and Luke Donald (R) the respective captains of Team US and Europe [Pic Credit: The Times]

The concerns regarding Justin Thomas continue, as he is an experienced player. He was also a key figure in their previous triumph, so the chances of him making the squad are still there. There are some who have already punched their ticket for Rome. The qualifications for both teams run through different dates. The question now is, Who are the qualified ones?

Apart from the captain and four vice captains, each team will have twelve other members. For Team USA, current world number one Scottie Scheffler and US Open winner Wyndham Clark have qualified. Patrick Cantlay, Open Championship winner Brian Harman and LIV Golfer Brooks Koepka are among the favorites to automatically qualify following their strong performances this year. The final automatic spot is currently occupied by Max Homa.

Recently, vice captain of the US team, Fred Couples, mistakenly announced the names of the players he would pick. As for their opponents, multi-time major champions Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm will bring much-needed experience. They are joined by Viktor Hovland, who was confirmed this week. The European qualification will run till September 3, as opposed to the US’ one, which concludes this weekend.

The previous edition was won by the US team by a score of 19-9. Such an exclusive line-up promises to provide a golfing masterclass in Rome this September. With home advantage on their side, Team Europe would be aiming to get the trophy back home.

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