LIV rebels get chance to shake up Ryder Cup reckoning at US PGA

B rooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson want to play in the Ryder Cup. There are influential members of the United States team who want Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson to play in the Ryder Cup. Yet speaking on the eve of the US PGA Championship, team captain Zach Johnson was as dismissive of the prospect of LIV rebels boarding September’s charter to Rome as someone of his mild disposition could possibly be. LIV golfers appear to be out of sight and out of mind.

Zach Johnson was asked directly whether his namesake, Dustin, is currently among their nation’s best 12 golfers. “Really difficult for me to judge that,” said the captain. “I don’t know the golf courses they’re playing. Never seen them. I’m not there on foot in person.

“You’re talking about an individual whose resume is extremely deep and wide. He’s certainly in my generation one of the best players I’ve ever competed against but it’s not fair for me to guess his true form or anybody’s true form that I can’t witness.” This verged on dereliction of duty; should Zach Johnson not be fully aware of the LIV scene and competitive vagaries within it? “I don’t travel anywhere but the PGA Tour and the majors,” Zach Johnson added.

At the Masters last month, Koepka was denied glory by an inspired Jon Rahm and a ruinous final round. The 33-year-old is admirably candid over what transpired in Georgia. “It is choking, right?” Koepka said. “If you have a lead and cough it up, that’s choking.” Koepka was two clear of Rahm after 54 holes.

“I haven’t really seen where he’s at since Augusta,” said Zach Johnson of Koepka. “He played really good that one week but it’s one week. I don’t want to sit here and say that it’s concrete, it’s the only thing we’re going to be looking at. It’s one