Ryder Cup vice-captain Fred {Couples} firmly defends Justin Thomas choose

Fred {Couples}, who will function a Ryder Cup assistant captain for a 3rd time in Rome, vehemently defended Justin Thomas’ choice to the American staff.

He did so on The Fred {Couples} Present, this system he hosts on Sirius XM’s PGA Tour radio.

“I believe [Thomas] is the strongest choose,” {Couples} stated Tuesday. “That was a no brainer.”

The final time the Ryder Cup was held on European soil, in 2018, the People received trounced. However Thomas was the one participant to have any success in Paris, as he went 4-1-0 that week.

Now, the People are relying on Thomas and his very good match play document in Rome.

“We didn’t play the course in Paris the way in which it ought to have been performed,” {Couples} admitted. “[Thomas] did. He’ll play [Marco Simone Golf Club] the way in which it must be performed.”

Whoever hosts the Ryder Cup has the excellence of establishing the golf course.

Usually, at any time when the competitors is hosted in Europe, the Europeans slender the fairways and lengthen the tough, which makes issues troublesome for the big-hitting People.

Group Europe did simply that in Paris, and rumors have it that they are going to as soon as once more make use of this tactic in Rome.

Photograph by David Cannon/Getty Pictures

“One of many issues [Thomas] can do is dissect a golf course,” {Couples} continued. “He’s going to get the ball in play. However oh, properly, he’s driving it poorly. Okay. Nicely, when he will get there, he can get the ball in play. That’s what we’re relying on.”

Certainly, Thomas struggled to search out fairways all through 2022-23, which marked the worst season of his profession.

He discovered the green simply 56.24% of the time, rating 138th on tour. Regardless of that, he ranked twenty first on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green.

“The analytics would say no,” {Couples} famous. “The way in which he performs golf, stated sure.”

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough too.