The changes that helped shape a record-breaking U.S. roster at last year’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits will be used again next year as the Americans look to retain the Cup in Italy.

The 12-man U.S. Team will be divided evenly, with six players qualifying automatically and another six names tapped by newly-minted American Ryder Cup captain, Zach Johnson. The announcement was made by Johnson in conjunction with the Ryder Cup Committee, a six-person group that includes Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Steve Stricker.

U.S. Ryder Cup Captains have made at least four picks for every Ryder Cup since 2008, with the exception of 2014 when there were nine automatic qualifiers and three picks. Stricker originally planned to make four picks for the 2020 Ryder Cup, but the qualification system was amended due to the COVID-19 pandemic to include six automatic qualifiers and six picks.

Stricker used his collection of picks to add Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Harris English, Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler to his team at Whistling Straits, which was the strongest Ryder Cup roster based on average world ranking since the creation of the OWGR in 1986. Those six picks combined to go 10-8-2 and accounted for more than half the total American points as the U.S. rolled to a record-breaking 19-9 victory on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Johnson is happy to adopt the model Stricker used to great success as he looks to lead the Americans to their first Ryder Cup win on European soil since 1993 at The Belfry.

“I appreciate that the hard decisions are in my lap. I love that responsibility,” Johnson said. “We’ve got a pretty good template already in place, and I’m not going to try to deviate away from that.”

American players will have a chance to begin accruing points at THE PLAYERS Championship next week. Points will be available at select 2022 events, including the majors, while regular PGA Tour events will begin awarding Ryder Cup points in January 2023.

2022

• 1 point per $1,000 earned at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open
  
• 1 point per $2,000 earned at THE PLAYERS Championship, WGC-Dell Technologies Championship, WGC-HSBC Championship

2023

• 1 point per $1,000 earned at regular PGA Tour events beginning January 1, including the Zurich Classic and WGC events, through the BMW Championship (August 20)
  
• 2 points per $1,000 earned for winner of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open
  
• 1.5 points per $1,000 earned for all others that make the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open
  
• No points available at PGA Tour opposite-field events

Qualification will conclude Aug. 20, 2023, with the top six names after the BMW Championship cementing spots on the U.S. Team at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. Johnson will round out his roster with six captain’s picks following the 2023 Tour Championship.

The Ryder Cup will be played Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2023, at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club near Rome as Italy hosts the Ryder Cup for the first time.