Collin Morikawa Joins Fellow Cal Alum Max Homa on the U.S. Ryder Cup Roster

Collin Morikawa was added to the U.S. team roster for the Ryder Cup on Tuesday, joining fellow Cal grad Max Homa, who previously earned a spot based on points.

It’s the second time Morikawa will participate in the event against the top golfers from Europe. In 2021, he posted a 3-0-1 record as the U.S. prevailed 19-9 — the most dominant victory in the modern history of the event.

This year’s Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.

Morikawa was among the final six team members chosen by captain Zach Johnson to complete the U.S. roster. Morikawa has not won a tournament in more than 25 months, but he played exceptionally well over the first two rounds of the Tour Championship event last week in Atlanta, with scores of 61 and 64.

This year’s Ryder Cup will be held Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.

The headline selection Tuesday was five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who now plays in the Saudi-backed LIV golf league. Koepka won his third PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. in May after tying for second at the Masters.

Here’s how ESPN explained why Koepka was eligible for the Ryder Cup, despite his participation with the LIV tour:

Although LIV Golf players have been suspended by the PGA Tour, they are still active PGA of America members because they paid their membership dues before June 30, 2022. The governing body has said they will retain their membership through the end of June 2023 and then through a grace period that expires in June 2024, making them eligible to compete in the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Johnson’s other selections to the U.S. roster were Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Sam Burns. Thomas was something of a surprise pick after finishing 71st in the FedEx Cup standings.

But Thomas has been effective in international team play, posting a 6-2-1 record in two previous Ryder Cups.

In addition to Homa, who will make his first Ryder Cup appearance, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, U.S. Open champ Wyndham Clark, British Open winner Brian Harman and Patrick Cantlay were previous named to the team based on their points standing.

Cal and Texas are the only schools to land two spots on the U.S. roster. Scheffler and Spieth are both UT alums.

The European team looks imposing, led by FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.

The Americans will be seeking their first title in the biennial event on foreign soil since a 15-13 victory at The Belfry in Warwickshire, England in 1993.

Homa, 32, was sixth in the FedEx Cup standings entering the three-week playoffs and wound up No. 9. He is seventh in the official world rankings.

He posted two victories this season, giving him six for his career, and had 12 top-10 finishes in the 2022-23 season. Homa’s career earnings have now exceeded $23 million.

Although Morikawa, 26, has not won since the 2021 British, he had six top-10 finishes this season, including a tie for sixth at the Tour Championship. He also was part of the winning Presidents Cup team last September.

Morikawa is 19th in the official world rankings and his career earnings are now just shy of $25 million.

Cover photo of Max Homa and Collin Morikawa by Andrew Wevers, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo