Two players who could be pivotal to U.S. chances at the 2021 Ryder Cup

The long wait is nearly over as the 2021 Ryder Cup is set to get underway this weekend exactly one year after arguably golf’s biggest event was postponed. The iconic Pete Dye-designed Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin is set to host the 43rd edition of this historic team event that is typically played out every other year between the United States and European teams.

There is a significant amount of pressure on the U.S. team and their captain, Steve Stricker, this time around after the debacle in Paris in 2018 that saw the Europeans emerge victorious 17.5 to 10.5. Captain Stricker will be eager to help the USA reclaim the Ryder Cup in his native Wisconsin in front of the fervent home fans.

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On paper, the Americans look to have the far superior team with 11 of the 12 players ranked inside of the top 20 in the world. Conversely, team Europe consists of just four players that are currently ranked inside the top 20. A significant advantage on paper has meant very little for the U.S. in previous renditions though as the Europeans have emerged victorious in seven of the last ten Ryder Cups.

If the Americans are to win on home soil this time around and fulfill the “Advantage” the red, white, and blue seemingly possess they will need strong performances from two players specifically that could prove critical to their chances.

Dustin Johnson

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The World’s 2nd ranked player has had his position on the U.S. team secured for quite some time as he gets set to make his 5th Ryder Cup appearance. A strong 2020 season that saw DJ climb to number one in the world rankings and a spectacular triumph at the 2020 Masters did not carry over into 2021 for Johnson.

Dustin recorded just six top 10 finishes on American soil throughout 2021 with three of those coming in three of his last four starts to close out the PGA year. Johnson battled inconsistencies with his game for large portions of 2021 with the irons specifically giving him problems. One of the best players on the planet ranked just 50th on tour in 2021 in strokes gained approach numbers.

Johnson has historically been one of the standouts for the United States in previous Ryder Cups and he will come into the 2021 edition as one of their most experienced players in this competition. Dustin like many of the U.S. team struggled in 2018 as he went just 1-4 across all five events in Paris. The Americans will need Johnson to right the ship this time around and show why he is the 2nd best player in the world if they are to reclaim the Ryder Cup this week.

Collin Morikawa

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Collin Morikawa will be making his Ryder Cup debut this week as one of six rookies on team USA. Morikawa is the 3rd ranked player in the world and one of a few that will have benefitted from the Ryder Cup being delayed by a year as he grew into one of the world’s best players over the past year and a half.

Morikawa may be a rookie in this event, but experiencing things for the first time certainly has not been something that has hindered him thus far in his young career. The 24-year-old won both a PGA Championship and an Open in his first-ever appearances.

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Collin struggled closing out the 2021 season following his win at the British Open after it had emerged that he had suffered a back injury while competing at the Olympics in Japan. The U.S. will need a healthy Morikawa this week and while the Ryder Cup is a different animal entirely Collin should be able to draw upon the promising success he had as part of the American Walker Cup team in 2017 where he went 4-0 across the four events.

If both Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa can reach the levels of play that they are more than capable of it could prove to be the difference in the United States winning the cup come Sunday.

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