United States Ryder Cup Team of the Decade for the 2010’s
By Matt Coles
Brooks Koepka – 56% points won (2 appearances)
World No.1 Brooks Koepka has featured in two Ryder Cups since bursting onto the golfing scene this decade, and he gets a captain’s pick purely for his golfing ability.
He made his debut in the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine and was part of the first American side to win the trophy against Europe in eight years.
He made the team having finished sixth on the points list over the two years beforehand and was one of just two rookies featuring for the hosts in Minnesota that September.
He partnered Brandt Snedeker, and the pair were lethal, winning both of the matches they played together, they dominated against Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett on Friday afternoon, before then getting the better of Henrik Stenson and Matthew Fitzpatrick on Saturday morning.
Koepka then played alongside Dustin Johnson on Saturday afternoon but came up against the might of Thomas Pieters and Rory McIlroy, who were on an unstoppable roll. Koepka downed Willett for a second time on Sunday, and by the same scoreline of 5&4, to cap a remarkable debut performance.
Two years later, and the four-time major winner found the going much tougher on foreign soil. Koepka could only manage 1.5 points from his four matches in Paris, with the first of those coming alongside rookie Tony Finau in the first match of the weekend, as they beat Justin Rose and Jon Rahm.
The pair then lost out to Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy on Saturday morning, before then going down to Stenson and Rose, the European power pairing in the final doubles match of the week. The World No.1 halves his singles match with Paul Casey, with both men having the opportunity to win it on the 18th.
Koepka now has a 56% poi’s ratio from his two appearances, having taken four points from a possible seven, but the long-hitter will be sure to improve that in the foreseeable future.