Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States: PGA of America President Jim Richerson has announced that Zach Johnson will serve as the United States Team Captain for next year’s Ryder Cup.

The Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in the Italian capital of Rome will stage the 44th edition of the team match play event between America and Europe from September 25 to October 1, 2023.

Johnson becomes the 30th US Captain since the Ryder Cup’s inception in 1927.   

A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Johnson made his Ryder Cup debut in 2006 and played in five Ryder Cups (2006, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016). Johnson has served as a US Vice Captain in the last two Ryder Cups. 

Richerson said: “I am confident that Zach’s appointment will be wildly popular with the players as well as throughout American golf circles. 

“But more than that, Zach is the calibre of individual that the PGA of America wants representing the United States and our 28,000-plus PGA Professionals on the global stage.

“He has performed on the biggest stages as a player, a team-mate and as a Vice Captain. He checks every conceivable leadership box and we anticipate that the US Team in Italy will reflect the hard work, grit and selfless determination that have long defined his stellar playing career,” 

The 46-year-old Johnson posted an 8-7-2 overall match record and was part of winning Ryder Cup efforts as a player in 2016 and as Vice Captain in 2020. Johnson’s two Major Championships, in the 2007 Masters and the 2015 Open, highlight 12 career worldwide victories. 

Johnson said: “To accept this captaincy, to lead this United States Ryder Cup Team abroad – after what we accomplished last year at Whistling Straits – is simply the greatest honour of my professional career.

“I want to thank the PGA of America Ryder Cup Committee for this special opportunity. As exciting as this is for both my family and me, it is equally sobering to understand the scope of our challenge in Rome, as we have not won on the road in three decades.

“To win, we will have to outplay a European Team that will have both ample talent and motivation on their side. I am anxious to dig in and begin the process of putting our team in the best possible position to succeed.” 

In his first appointment as Ryder Cup Captain, Johnson named Steve Stricker the first of his Vice Captains. Stricker served as US Captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup, which the US won, 19-9, recording the largest margin of victory since continental Europe was included in 1979.

Stricker previously served as a Vice Captain three times (2014, 2016 and 2018).

The selection criteria for the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup Team was also announced by Johnson in co-ordination with the PGA Ryder Cup Committee, which includes Richerson, PGA of America Vice President John Lindert, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh, Stricker, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.

All US players will have the opportunity to earn points beginning in 2022 and concluding immediately after the second FedEx Cup Play-Off event (BMW Championship) on August 20, 2023.

The PGA of America is an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.