FUS Athletic Communications
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Seminoles.com) – With the completion of The Barclays on Sunday night at Bethpage Black, Florida State men’s golfer Brooks Koepka (2008-12) has officially earned one of eight automatic qualifying spots on the United States Ryder Cup Team. The event will take place Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.
Koepka becomes the third Florida State representative to participate in the Ryder Cup, with all three being on the U.S. team. Hubert Green (1966-68 at FSU) played three times in 1977, 1979 and 1985. Paul Azinger (1981) participated four times as a player in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 2002. He also captained the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Team that defeated Europe, 16.5-11.5, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
Green and Azinger went a combined 5-2-1 in eight combined Ryder Cup appearances.
Mathematically, Koepka already locked up a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team prior to The Barclays, which kicked off the FedEx Playoff Cup. With the Top eight being selected based on the Ryder Cup rankings following the tournament, Koepka was already fifth.
Koepka, who hails from West Palm Beach, Fla., was a two-time All-American for the Seminoles as well as a two-time ACC Player of the Year and an ACC Rookie of the Year. In the 2015-16 PGA Tour season he has garnered seven Top 10 finishes, including two second-place finishes in back-to-back tournaments at the AT&T Byron Nelson and the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
The talented golfer has also gained admiration from some because of his toughness. A lover of many sports including football, his “gamer” mentality this summer includes finishing tied for fourth at the PGA Championship in Baltusrol while playing on a heavily taped ankle from July 28-31.
Although he had to miss The Open Championship due to injury, he has finished in the Top 10 in two of his three tournaments since.
While at FSU, Koepka earned three victories and 19 Top 10 finishes in 47 tournaments played. All three of his wins came in a fantastic senior season in 2011-12, winning the Brickyard Collegiate, the Seminole Intercollegiate and the Florida Atlantic Intercollegiate.
The first eight selections to the U.S. Ryder Cup Team include Dustin Johnson (1), Jordan Spieth (2), Phil Mickelson (3), Jimmy Walker (4), Brandt Snedeker (6), Patrick Reed (7) and Zach Johnson (8). Koepka is the lone rookie on the team so far.
U.S. Captain Davis Love III will make three captain’s picks on Sept. 12 following the BMW Championship. His final pick will be made on Sept. 25 after the Tour Championship.
Fellow FSU alum Daniel Berger entered The Barclays ranked 16th in the Ryder Cup standings and could become a captain’s pick with a strong showing down the stretch.
Follow the FSU Men’s Golf Team on its official Twitter handle (@FSUGolf) as well as on the team’s official Facebook page (Facebook.com/FSUMensGolf).
-Seminoles.com-
Koepka becomes the third Florida State representative to participate in the Ryder Cup, with all three being on the U.S. team. Hubert Green (1966-68 at FSU) played three times in 1977, 1979 and 1985. Paul Azinger (1981) participated four times as a player in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 2002. He also captained the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Team that defeated Europe, 16.5-11.5, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
Green and Azinger went a combined 5-2-1 in eight combined Ryder Cup appearances.
Mathematically, Koepka already locked up a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team prior to The Barclays, which kicked off the FedEx Playoff Cup. With the Top eight being selected based on the Ryder Cup rankings following the tournament, Koepka was already fifth.
Koepka, who hails from West Palm Beach, Fla., was a two-time All-American for the Seminoles as well as a two-time ACC Player of the Year and an ACC Rookie of the Year. In the 2015-16 PGA Tour season he has garnered seven Top 10 finishes, including two second-place finishes in back-to-back tournaments at the AT&T Byron Nelson and the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
The talented golfer has also gained admiration from some because of his toughness. A lover of many sports including football, his “gamer” mentality this summer includes finishing tied for fourth at the PGA Championship in Baltusrol while playing on a heavily taped ankle from July 28-31.
Although he had to miss The Open Championship due to injury, he has finished in the Top 10 in two of his three tournaments since.
While at FSU, Koepka earned three victories and 19 Top 10 finishes in 47 tournaments played. All three of his wins came in a fantastic senior season in 2011-12, winning the Brickyard Collegiate, the Seminole Intercollegiate and the Florida Atlantic Intercollegiate.
The first eight selections to the U.S. Ryder Cup Team include Dustin Johnson (1), Jordan Spieth (2), Phil Mickelson (3), Jimmy Walker (4), Brandt Snedeker (6), Patrick Reed (7) and Zach Johnson (8). Koepka is the lone rookie on the team so far.
U.S. Captain Davis Love III will make three captain’s picks on Sept. 12 following the BMW Championship. His final pick will be made on Sept. 25 after the Tour Championship.
Fellow FSU alum Daniel Berger entered The Barclays ranked 16th in the Ryder Cup standings and could become a captain’s pick with a strong showing down the stretch.
Follow the FSU Men’s Golf Team on its official Twitter handle (@FSUGolf) as well as on the team’s official Facebook page (Facebook.com/FSUMensGolf).
-Seminoles.com-