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Rickie Fowler Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ryder Cup 2023: The top players from PGA Tour, LIV Golf aiming to make Team USA

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 7/3/23

Professional golf is at a pivotal point of the season for every tour as the calendar turns to July and the 2023 Ryder Cup comes even closer into view -- and the discussion over who should be allowed on Team USA and Team Europe has become even more interesting.

For the United States, the Ryder Cup team is made up of six automatic selections -- more on that in just a second -- and six selections made by team captain Zach Johnson. The captain has until after the Tour Championship in August to finalize his six picks, but there are winners from pre-July 4th weekend who are making a strong case to make the team.

Is Rickie now a lock for the Ryder Cup? pic.twitter.com/SvokIPjI6T
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) July 3, 2023

Of course, Rickie Fowler has made his case with his nail-biter of a victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last weekend. The 34-year-old has been having a bounce-back season and now, after more than four years -- it was precisely 1,610 days, according to CNN -- the California native has a victory under his belt and fuel to be one of Johnson's picks for Team USA.

"One of the end goals was to be a part of the Ryder Cup team, and that's still what we're focusing on right now," Fowler said on Sunday, via the PGA Tour's website. "Been a part of a handful and that's -- they're very special weeks, so that's where I have kind of my eyes."

Fowler also has a ton of support from his peers, so his addition to the Team USA roster would seem very likely.

I can’t get over I actually had to watch the end of that golf streamed on my phone but dammit I’m sure glad I did!!!!! So pumped for @RickieFowler right now. Lfg brother!!!!
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) July 2, 2023

As far as outside of the PGA Tour goes, Talor Gooch has made a case to be on Team USA as well, and this is where things get interesting.

Of the six golfers automatically selected for the team, Brooks Koepka is the only pro from LIV Golf thanks to his win at the PGA Championship. Gooch won his third event of the season last Sunday at LIV Golf Valderrama, so one would think that he would get a nod to be on Team USA without a doubt.

But as Sports Illustrated points out, LIV Golf's lack of world ranking points has almost kept Gooch's victories under the radar.

"Gooch sat at 15th on the Ryder Cup points list at the end of 2022, but because he is now on LIV, his three victories may seem like they never happened," SI explains.

Johnson was previously non-commital about adding anyone from LIV Golf to the Ryder Cup team, but that was before the announcement about the proposed merger between the two tours and the DP World Tour. With the deal now part of a U.S. Senate investigation, it's anyone's guess if what's going on off the links will play a part in Johnson's decision.

Like with so many things in golf these days, we'll just have to wait and see.

The 2023 Ryder Cup tees off at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Italy on Friday, September 29.

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