The highly anticipated Ryder Cup was announced a while back by US team captain Zach Johnson. But the much-awaited picks came with a lot of reaction in the golf community, as Justin Thomas was selected by the skipper instead of others such as Lucas Glover. The feedback came in mixed, with it slightly leaning towards contention as the golfer experienced a rough year in his career.

Thomas experienced a drought in 2023 with no wins under his belt, which led to him having little to no hope for the Ryder Cup selection. This led to many in the golf community protesting against the skipper’s choice; they argued that the decision was made based on friendship. But, in a surprise of sorts, one of the greatest golfers of all time went ahead to share his views on the selection, surprising many in the golf community!

Golf legend opens up about Justin Thomas’ selection over Lucas Glover

JT has been part of the US team for the past two editions of the prestigious tournament. While the team could not clinch a victory against the European team in 2018, they managed to take home the cup in 2021. This allowed the golfer to become a part of that history. And now, with his inclusion into the team despite the sub-par year, many discussions have gone viral, including that of Lee Trevino, the 83-year-old ex-professional.

While talking about the Ryder Cup team on A New Breed of Golf with Michael Breed, Trevino mentioned how Thomas was picked over Glover because of his experience and age. Moreover, the 83-year-old also pointed out how his compatibility with Jordan Spieth became a crucial factor in his selection. He was also quick to say, “I don’t think it had anything to do with personalities,” all the while supporting Justin’s selection to the team.

Lee went ahead to talk about how the 30-year-old has a stellar career to his name, saying, “I know that Justin hasn’t been playing well, but he’s not a weak player”. Moreover, continuing on with his response, Trevino pointed out how JT has won 15 times on the PGA Tour, including two majors, as he emphasized the winning record that the golfer boasts under his belt, which became a crucial factor in his selection.

It remains to be seen whether Johnson’s picks will turn out to be a risky choice or a masterstroke. Nevertheless, many golfers and experts came out in support of Thomas following his selection for the US team. Let’s take a look at a couple of them.

Pro golfers turn advocates for JT

Mark Murphy came forward to show his support for the 30-year-old as he mentioned how the feeling of patriotism would push Justin to perform well at the Ryder Cup. The 6X PGA Tour winner was quick to point out how the same thing happened with Adam Scott when Greg Norman selected the golfer for the 2009 President’s Cup. Scott rewarded his faith by teaming up with Ernie Els to deliver a victory over the US team in the opening foursomes.

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In addition to Murphy, the vice captain for the US team, Fred Couples, disclosed the reason behind JT’s selection, saying the latter would be an immense help in dissecting the golf course. Moreover, Couples was quick to shut down the protesting voices as he emphasized how the team as a whole has spoken, thereby cementing his support for the golfer.

One can’t help but become curious as to what will happen at the upcoming event. Do you think Justin Thomas will go above and beyond to deliver at the Ryder Cup? Share your thoughts below.

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