ROME — When U.S. captain Zach Johnson got his Ryder Cup team together for the first time for a training camp at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club on Friday, there was no need for a pep talk about unity with Brooks Koepka coming in from the renegade LIV Golf League.
That’s because it was just about unanimous: Everyone wanted the five-time major champion — even if he did leave the U.S.-based PGA Tour last year to chase the riches of the Saudi-backed LIV circuit.
“The only thing that was said about Brooks with the guys — specifically the top six that made the team on their own merit — was, ‘We want Brooks Koepka to play for Team USA,” Johnson said.
Koepka was on hand as nine members of the 12-man American team played Marco Simone for the first time.
“Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay have family matters that definitely supersede what we’re doing,” Johnson said.