Koepka and Mickelson reignite Ryder Cup talk for LIV rebels

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The final set of the United States Ryder Cup standings included the interludes. Brooks Koepka 16th, Phil Mickelson jumped to 20th and Patrick Reed 33rd. LIV golfers’ performance at the Masters reignited the Ryder Cup conversation. The sense that Europe would not suffer financially from flaws in the LIV circuit was only supported by Jon Rahm’s win at the Augusta National. Luke Donald will be looking for a Masters champion. Rory McIlroy has the essence of a great team in Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Matt Fitzpatrick. Finishing in top 20 in the first major tournament of year, Justin Rose’s return to form helped Europe even more. It would already come as a surprise if Rose didn’t book the flight to Rome in September 2021, when Pádraig Harrington would inevitably be spurred on by being ignored. Of course, the European picture is more cloudy. Confirmation last week that LIV players lost their sports arbitration case against DP World Tour is causing more daylight amongst the backroom roles of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Ryder Cup. It is not possible to see the British duo on this stage again. Keith Pelley, CEO of DP World Tour, said Sergio García, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell are stepping down from their roles as vice-captain or captain. This felt controversial; The bad blood between tour and many who switched to LIV format meant that it was impossible for everyone to coexist in biennial . The future of European captaincy is up in the air. Certainly, the gaps created by Poulter, Westwood and García will need to be filled somehow. With Tiger Woods limping toward playing obscurity, with the US taking the inevitable step into that role, Europe will need to find a blue-chip candidate to oppose this myth. As of now, the options are limited. USA captain Zach Johnson faces his own dilemma if some players continue to dominate on the major platforms. If none of them made progress on the proficiency table, the LIV issue was insignificant. “I’m not worried about that right now,” Johnson said earlier this year. “There’s still a lot of fluidity and uncertainty involved.” It is assumed that what Johnson wants is certainty. Patrick Reed is always a part of the Ryder Cup conversation. In a previous bulletin, Johnson said “To play for Ryder Cup team, whether you’re in the top six or a captain’s pick, you must collect Ryder Cup points through PGA of America. To collect Ryder Cup points through the PGA America, you must be a member of the PGA America. “The way to become a member of the PGA of America is through the PGA Tour. I’ll let you connect the dots from there.” But LIV golfers expelled from the PGA Tour are still listed in America’s PGA qualification system and, in some cases, are moving upwards. It seems like Koepka, who is back in shape, would automatically become a Ryder Cup entrant if he were part of the PGA Tour. Instead, LIV is his chosen field of competition. Dustin Johnson had a minor Mastery, but he’s a Ryder Cup connoisseur. Reed didn’t play last time as the US smashed Europe on Whistling Straits. But “Captain America” ​​is always part of the Ryder Cup conversation. Zach Johnson may be waiting for further instructions. The USA team, which came out of the top 12 of the standings, is strong despite losing to Will Zalatoris’ back surgery. As in Europe, dynamic LIV participation in a Ryder Cup seems deceptive to say the least; One of Johnson’s assistant captains, Davis Love III, became an outspoken critic riot tour. Woods is now highly influential in the Ryder Cup and is totally against anything LIV related. The PGA Tour and PGA of America are closely aligned. The PGA Tour and LIV are immersed in litigation. However, it would be head-scratching if more tokens were placed by LIV players at next month’s US PGA Championship, an event controlled by the PGA of America. If Koepka wins at Oak Hill – which is perfectly reasonable – it’s safe to assume that sponsors, spectators and even some team members will ask why some of the USA’s best players won’t be playing under the stars and stripes in Italy. This is a problem that may not go away.