Team USA is starting to take shape.
After the conclusion of the 2023 BMW Championship the first six automatic qualifiers for the U.S. team bound for Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome and the 2023 Ryder Cup were confirmed. Following the Tour Championship on Aug. 29, captain Zach Johnson will announce his six captain’s picks that will join the team in Italy.
Of the first six players to earn a spot on the roster, three will make their debut in the biennial event against the Europeans, who haven’t lost on home soil since 1993.
Get to know the six players who earned automatic qualification to represent the red, white and blue in the 44th playing of the Ryder Cup.
Scottie Scheffler
Age: 27
World Ranking: 1
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2021)
Ryder Cup record: 2-0-1
The World No. 1 earned the first spot on Team USA and will make his second Ryder Cup appearance after a 2-0-1 showing in 2021 that included a Sunday singles win against Jon Rahm, 4 and 3.
Last season was Scheffler’s coming out party as the Texan earned four wins, including his first major at the Masters, as well as four runner-up finishes and 11 top 10s. The 27-year-old has kept the party going this season with two more wins and an astounding 13 top-five finishes in 21 events.
Wyndham Clark
Age: 29
World Ranking: 11
Ryder Cup appearances: Debut
Clark officially clinched his spot five days after Scheffler thanks to an impressive season that included seven top-10 and a dozen top-25 finishes on Tour with wins at the U.S. Open and Wells Fargo Championship. He previously represented the U.S. at the 2014 Palmer Cup where he earned one point out of four and lost to Jon Rahm, 4 and 3, in Saturday singles.
Patrick Cantlay
Age: 31
World Ranking: 4
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2021)
Ryder Cup record: 3-0-1
Cantlay has been a menace while representing the red, white and blue, especially when paired with good friend Xander Schauffele. Each was 3-1-0 at the 2022 Presidents Cup, 2-1-0 when paired together. At the 2021 Ryder Cup, with both players making their debut, they were 2-0-0 in foursomes, and Cantlay rolled Shane Lowry, 4 and 2, in his singles debut to finish the week in Wisconsin 3-0-1, tied for the most points on the team.
Brian Harman
Age: 36
World Ranking: 8
Ryder Cup appearances: Debut
The reigning Champion Golfer of the Year has never represented the U.S. in the Ryder Cup, but he was a two-time member of Team USA at both the Walker Cup (2005, 2009) and Palmer Cup (2006, 2007) as an amateur. Harman has earned 11 top-25 and six top-10 finishes on Tour this season, including three runner-up showings.
Max Homa
Age: 32
World Ranking: 7
Ryder Cup appearances: Debut
The fan-favorite was impressive in his Presidents Cup debut last fall (4-0-0) and Team USA will rely on Homa again in Italy. So far this season the 32-year-old has two wins and 10 top-10 finishes.
Xander Schauffele
Age: 29
World Ranking: 6
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2021)
Ryder Cup record: 3-1-0
Schauffele hasn’t missed a cut in 20 starts this season on Tour and has 16 top-25 finishes, including nine in the top 10.
