Brian Harman Says Brooks Koepka ‘Would Be A Pretty Good Addition’ To US Ryder Cup Team
The Open champion thinks the LIV Golf player’s experience could help Team USA claim victory at Marco Simone
After looking like a good bet for an automatic qualifying position for the US Ryder Cup team, LIV Golf player Brooks Koepka was pipped to the sixth and final spot by Xander Schauffele following his T8 at the BMW Championship.
That leaves the PGA Champion at the mercy of Zach Johnson to see if he will appear at Marco Simone.
The Team USA Captain will name his six wildcards next week as the long-running question over whether LIV Golf players will be included will finally be answered.
However, one player who is already assured of his place in the team, Open champion Brian Harman, is in no doubt Koepka would be an asset for the biennial match in Italy.
Harman is preparing to compete in the PGA Tour’s season finale the Tour Championship at East Lake. Before teeing it up in this week’s event, though, he gave his thoughts on Koepka’s chances. He said: “You know, Brooks he's right there. I think he would be a pretty good addition to the team."
Harman is one of three players who have qualified automatically making his maiden appearance in the match, along with US Open champion Wyndham Clark and Max Homa.
In contrast, Koepka has made three appearances, and Harman thinks that experience could be invaluable. He said: “I'm not totally familiar with his record in Ryder Cups, but the experience would certainly help, especially considering there's probably going to be a fair amount of rookies over there.”
Get the top Black Friday deals right in your inbox: Sign up now!
The hottest deals and product recommendations during deals season straight to your inbox plus all the best game-changing tips, in-depth features and the latest news and insights around the game.
Despite Johnson having a wealth of talent to select from beyond Koepka, a win in the match is by no means certain, particularly with Europe boasting two of the world’s top three players in Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm and its record on home soil, where it hasn’t lost to the US for three decades.
The task facing Team USA doesn’t appear to be lost on Harman, either, although he admitted he has full faith in Johnson to make the correct picks. He said: “In my opinion, the goal of the Ryder Cup is to win, so whoever Zach thinks that can help us win the Ryder Cup I think needs to be on the team.”
Harman’s comments came after another player who has guaranteed his place on the team, Scottie Scheffler, also suggested Koepka was close enough to qualifying automatically to be involved.
He said: “Brooks? I mean, I looked at the points list the other night. He was about, like 300 or, I think he was 30 points shy? Which is, I think it was the equivalent of like $30,000 throughout the year. So if he played one tournament on Tour I think he probably would have been on the team.”
Johnson will name his six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup on 29 August, one month before the match begins. He will do so from the home of the PGA of America in Frisco, Texas, between 10am and 11am ET.
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Graham DeLaet Facts: 20 Things To Know About The PGA Tour Pro Turned Broadcaster
Graham DeLaet had a successful career in the game, but after injuries took a toll, he has stepped into a broadcasting role in recent years - here are 20 facts about him
By Mike Hall Published
-
Arron Oberholser Facts: 15 Things To Know About The PGA Tour-Winning Golf Channel Broadcaster
Arron Oberholser left his PGA Tour career behind to take up life as a Golf Channel broadcaster in 2013 – here are 15 things to know about him
By Mike Hall Published
-
Bryson DeChambeau Ninth Favorite At Pinehurst As PGA Champion Xander Schauffele Trails Rory McIlroy In Early US Open Odds
The bookmakers have released their odds for the next men's Major championship - the US Open - and there are a few eyebrow-raising situations at hand
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Surprising Pro Surges To Second Behind Rory McIlroy In Most Popular PGA Championship Bets 2024
Despite having not yet won a Major, one name has moved past multiple champions like Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in terms of total bet share for the PGA Championship
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
World Wide Technology Championship Purse, Prize Money And Field 2023
PGA Championship hero Michael Block appears as the tournament heads to a new venue
By Mike Hall Published
-
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Purse, Prize Money And Field 2023
Ewen Ferguson defends his title as the DP World Tour heads to the Middle East at Doha Golf Club
By Mike Hall Published
-
Fans Forced To Leave DP World Tour Event Due To High Winds
High winds caused some of the Andalucia Masters' first round to be played behind closed doors due to fears over fan safety
By Ben Fleming Published
-
Top Amateur Follows Ludvig Aberg's Footsteps And Secures PGA Tour Card In College
Gordon Sargent is the first player to earn his Tour card through the new PGA TOUR University Accelerated system
By Ben Fleming Published
-
Rickie Fowler Eyes Up Olympic Games After Ryder Cup Nightmare
The American endured a torrid time in Rome but the experience has motivated him to try and represent the US again next summer
By Ben Fleming Published
-
Phil Mickelson And Ian Poulter Certain Of More High Profile LIV Signings
The two team captains suggest they have already been in contact with several notable players about making the jump in the off-season
By Ben Fleming Published