Ryder Cup 2023: Is Brian Harman a major threat for Team USA?
Brian Harman has gotten plenty of attention -- both good and not-so-good -- since his Open Championship win at Hoylake last week. And with the Open now in the rearview mirror, the focus changes to Harman climbing 17 spots in the Ryder Cup standings to sit at No. 3 and automatically make Team USA.
Before last week's major, the Savannah, Georgia native probably wouldn't have been on many people's radar to be a lock for the team. But after winning the Claret Jug, is it safe to say that Harman could be a weapon for the U.S. Ryder Cup team?
LIV Golf pro Lee Westwood certainly thinks so, as he explained in an op-ed in The Telegraph earlier this week that predominantly came to Harman's defense against golf media and the corners of the internet.
"I saw some idiot on social media claiming it to be a good thing for Europe that Harman is on the U.S. Ryder Cup team for September’s Ryder Cup in Rome. Is it hell!" Westwood wrote. "He is the type of matchplay opponent that would drive you absolutely mad – never missing a putt, always staying in the hole with his grit and determination.
"No, he does not hit it miles and is no bomber, but as we saw on the Wirral he is accurate and the way that we set up our Ryder Cup courses on this side of the pond – narrow fairways, thick rough – means that he will be suited to the test at Marco Simone. Believe it, Brian will be a huge asset to Zach Johnson in the foursomes."
Westwood isn't the only one who saw Harman's accuracy and superior putting at Hoylake. Johnson was on the scene over the weekend and told Harman to "keep doing what you're doing." Of course, that could be in reference to a multitude of things. But the U.S. team captain just has to be thinking about Harman applying that elite play in Rome in September, right?
There are still a few weeks left before the top six are set in the Ryder Cup standings, and unless Harman completely comes undone or gets injured he is probably automatically making the team. And once he does, there is a chance he could be the threat Team USA needs to get their first Ryder Cup win in Europe in 30 years.
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