American Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson has found himself facing criticism from fans and the broadcast team after a questionable decision during the tournament. Johnson instructed Jordan Spieth to club down from a driver to a 3-wood on the par-4 16th, a move that proved to be costly.
Spieth and Justin Thomas were 3-down with only three holes remaining when they needed a great tee shot. Despite every player in the tournament choosing to go with a driver on this hole, Spieth followed Johnson’s instruction and his tee shot fell woefully short, finding the water hazard. This mistake ultimately led to Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre winning the match and giving Team Europe another point.
The decision to club down left both the broadcast team and fans baffled, and social media erupted with criticism for Captain Johnson. Many fans even expressed their desire for Tiger Woods to step in as captain, believing that Johnson’s choices have cost the American team valuable points.
This decision is not the only one that has come under scrutiny for Captain Johnson. Since the Americans’ 4-0 loss in the Friday morning foursomes, fans have questioned his decisions. While Saturday’s matches went slightly better for Team USA, with Max Homa and Brian Harman claiming victory in their matches, there is still much speculation and controversy surrounding the team. Rumors are circulating about Patrick Cantlay’s refusal to wear a hat and the team sickness affecting Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler’s absence from the game.
It is clear that Johnson’s decision to club down on the 16th hole may have been his worst move yet. This choice potentially cost Team USA an additional point and has significantly diminished their chances of winning the Ryder Cup in the Sunday Singles matches.
As the tournament unfolds, critics will undoubtedly continue to dissect and analyze Johnson’s decisions. The pressure is on for Team USA to recover from their losses and salvage their chances of victory.