Opening US Ryder Cup Team Odds: Koepka, DJ & Tiger Near Locks; Phil Mickelson Listed at +200

• The 2020 Ryder Cup tees off Friday, September 25th, 2020
• We’ve rounded up the odds for who is most likely to make the American team
• Which golfers should be avoided and who are some good darkhorses to make it?

It’s never too early to look ahead to the 2020 Ryder Cup which will be played at Whistling Straits Golf Course in Wisconsin. The American side will be looking to move past their dreadful Ryder Cup experience in France and have the same result they achieved at the recently completed Presidents Cup.

Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods are near locks to qualify for the team with ease, with other interesting names like the enigmatic and controversial Patrick Reed hardly a shoo-in and 12-time Ryder Cupper Phil Mickelson sitting at plus money after failing to make Team USA at the Presidents Cup.

Odds to Qualify For 2020 USA Ryder Cup Team

Odds Taken December 19th

Current Team USA Standings

Each year the top-eight point getters leading into the Ryder Cup automatically qualify for the team with the captain then selecting four players of his choosing to round out the roster.

Brooks Koepka is running away from the pack which gives him those insane -15000 odds that are so low they aren’t even worth touching. There’s really no money to be made on DJ or Tiger as well, so it’s hardly worth betting on them.

Apropos of nothing, this is what the first tee at the Ryder Cup looks like pic.twitter.com/7XfMYSYCSi

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) December 11, 2019

Captain Steve Stricker will have some very difficult decisions to make because the American team is loaded with talent, and even players who are currently down the rankings seemingly would be guaranteed locks to make the team (see Justin Thomas at 16).

2020 USA Ryder Cup Rankings

Virtual Lock Justin Thomas Presents Some Value

You’re still getting the 2017 PGA Champion Justin Thomas at minus odds despite him surprisingly being 16th on the points list, but he would have to suffer an injury or catastrophic slump in order for him to be left off the team.

CLUTCH. 💯

Justin Thomas with a huge putt on 18 to win the match and give the U.S. their third point.pic.twitter.com/QtvQYDInUH

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 13, 2019

In his last ten starts worldwide he’s been no worse than 17th with a pair of victories and just tied for most points in the Presidents Cup. This one is a no brainer.

Pick: Justin Thomas Makes 2020 Ryder Cup (-250)

Patrick Reed Will Find it Tough to Make Team

Currently sitting just one spot ahead of JT in the rankings, the mercurial Patrick Reed might find himself out of chances in the short term for any consideration of a captains pick if he doesn’t qualify. Not only did he make huge waves at the 2018 Ryder Cup following his own poor play, but he caused more turmoil for the States at the Presidents Cup and once again failed to perform.

Captain's pick Patrick Reed's last two team events:

• 1-5 record
• Bitched about Jordan not wanting to play with him
• Claimed Tiger apologized to *him* after he shot (a generous) 82
• Wife fanned the flames on twitter
• Caddie literally shoves a fan

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) December 14, 2019

He’s fueled by slights so that might just be enough for him to qualify for the top-eight on points alone, but given his bad standing on the points list and with his own teammates, best not to go all-in on Reed.

Pick: Patrick Reed Doesn’t Make Ryder Cup

Webb Simpson With Sneaky Good Odds

He might not be the sexiest name but #6 on the current rankings is 2012 US Open champ Webb Simpson and he’s paying out plus money. Simpson hasn’t missed a cut since March and has racked up four runner-up finishes since then.

Webb Simpson is low-key an indispensable part of the U.S. team.

No fuss, no drama, gets along with everyone, can play him with the problem children on the team, unbeaten in last four Ryder/Pres Cups singles matches.

— LKD (@LukeKerrDineen) December 15, 2019

He’s represented the States at three Ryder Cups and three Presidents Cups so even if he doesn’t automatically qualify, he’d be a fantastic captains pick who could pair with anybody.

Pick: Webb Simpson Makes 2020 Ryder Cup (+125)

Phil Mickelson in Tough to Make Team

Having seen his remarkable run of making 24 straight Presidents or Ryder Cup teams end this year, it’s probably time to count lefty out and select him to miss his first Ryder Cup since 1993.

After winning at Pebble Beach in February, his best finish in the next 20 events was T-18th at the Masters. It’s easily the worst prolonged slump of his career. Phil is currently 23rd on the points list, and it’s always tough to discount the first ballot hall-of-famer but his +200 odds just aren’t enticing enough.

Pick: Phil Mickelson Doesn’t Make Ryder Cup