ATLANTA -- Phil Mickelson will be attending the Ryder Cup but not as a participant.
On Wednesday, Steve Stricker, the U.S. captain, named Mickelson, along with Fred Couples, one of his vice-capitos for the matches which will be held at Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, Sept. 24-26.
This means Tiger Woods won't be vice captain as there is a limit of five per team. Davis Love III, Zach Johnson, and Jim Furyk were previously named as assistants to Stricker.
Mickelson (51), will not be joining the U.S. playing squad for the first time since 1995. He has played in 12 consecutive Ryder Cups.
In May, he won the PGA Championship. It was his sixth major title. He also became the 45th PGA Tour winner. He didn't make it to this week's Tour Championship, so that was his only top-10 finish.
Stricker stated, "I've been keeping in close contact with both Freddie, and Phil, discussing all things Ryder Cup," They provide honest and meaningful feedback and they both share a passion about the Ryder Cup. It was an honor to have them join our team. They will help us win in Whistling Straits in just a few weeks.
Mickelson played in 47 matches for the United States with an 18-22-7 record.
Couples participated in five Ryder Cups (9-4) and were an assistant to Love (2012). He was the U.S. Presidents Cup Captain in 2009, 2011, and 2013. Woods was his playing captain in the U.S. Presidents Cup 2019.
Stricker stated several times earlier this year that Woods was a possibility and that he had spoken to him frequently. However, it is not clear if he was asked to be vice captain.
Woods is "just not able" to be there, Stricker stated. He's making good progress, but Whistling Straits can be difficult to navigate. He has already helped and will continue to help.
Woods hasn't played this year since he was involved in a serious car accident in February.
Stricker will make his six captain's selections to join team qualifiers Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson. Brooks Koepka, Patrick Cantlay, Dustin Johnson, Bryson deChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Justin Thomas on Sept. 8.
