Brooks Koepka. LIV Golf

After cementing his legacy as one of the most dominant players of his generation with a fifth major championship win at this year’s PGA Championship and a runner-up finish at the 2023 Masters, Brooks Koepka was confirmed on Zach Johnson’s team for the Ryder Cup showdown against Europe next month.

This will be the fourth Ryder Cup appearance for Koepka, who holds a 6-5-1 overall record in three Ryder Cup competitions (2016, 2018, 2021), including two victories for Team USA.

“I’m honoured to represent my country again as a part of this year’s Ryder Cup team, and excited to defend the cup with my teammates in Rome. Let’s go USA,” said Koepka.

Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, the series that Koepka moved to from the PGA Tour last year, was among the first to pass on his best wishes.

“Congratulations to Brooks Koepka on a well-deserved honour representing Team USA,” Norman said. “His résumé speaks for itself, and his status among the sport’s fiercest competitors is unquestioned. Brooks’ will to win shines brightest on golf’s biggest stages and it will be exciting to watch him compete in Rome.”

It has been a historic season for the Smash captain, highlighted by his third PGA Championship title in May. The 33-year-old became the seventh male golfer since 1950 to win five majors before the age of 34. The previous six are in the World Golf Hall of Fame – Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. He is also the first player born after 1975 to win five majors and the third player to win three or more PGA Championships in the stroke-play era. This year, Koepka also became the first two-time individual champion with LIV Golf, where he currently sits tied for fourth place in the individual standings.

The US Team captain’s picks also included Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. The six players will join the previously announced qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Brian Harman, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome from September 29 to October 1.

The European Team’s six automatic qualifiers will be finalised on September 3.