'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Veteran golfer Phil Mickelson is not playing in the 2023 Ryder Cup and fans wonder why one of the most successful tournament players won't be teeing off this year.
The teams for the competition are not automatically filled with the top players and the captains get to choose some of the team members. Unfortunately for Mickelson, he just wasn't selected as a captain's pick this time.
The 53-year-old had been going through a rough patch regarding his performance in 2023, and his recent results may have influenced the captain's decision.
The Ryder Cup is a fiercely competitive event and captains have to make tough choices. As a result, even great players like Mickelson can sometimes miss out due to the level of competition.
Phil Mickelson has won five Major Championships, including three victories at The Masters (2004, 2006, and 2010) and his 45 PGA Tour victories place him among the elite in professional golf. He has also achieved the top ranking in the world of golf, showcasing his consistency and competitiveness at the sport's highest level.
Every tournament captain has a strategy in mind. They select players who, they believe, will fit nicely into their plan for winning the Cup. If a player doesn't match that strategy, they might not make the cut.
Decisions about who plays in the Cup can be quite challenging. Mickelson's absence this year is due to a combination of factors, including the captain's picks, recent form, competition, and the captain's strategy.
While fans will miss seeing him on the course, the Ryder Cup remains an exciting and unpredictable event, with many talented players ready to represent their teams.
Ryder Cup 2023 US: Participant list
The 2023 Ryder Cup will feature a strong US team led by captain Zach Johnson.
The team includes six automatic qualifiers - Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Brian Harman, Max Homa, and Xander Schauffele, along with Johnson's six captain's picks, Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas.
The 12-member US team will defend their title against a formidable European team in Rome from September 29 to October 1. It is a prestigious golf tournament played in a match-play format over three days, featuring foursomes, four-ball, and singles matches.
Here are some of the anticipated matchups for the 2023 Ryder Cup:
Team USA: Scottie Scheffler/Sam Burns, Max Homa/Brian Harman, Rickie Fowler/Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay
Team Europe: Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland/Ludvig Aberg, Shane Lowry/Sepp Straka, Rory McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood
The tournament captains for the event include Luke Donald, Thomas Bjorn, Nicolas Colsaerts, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari, and Jose Maria Olazabal.
The competition promises to be intense, with both teams hoping to lift the cup come the end of the tournament.
