According to The Associated Press, two-time major champion Zach Johnson is taking over as the captain of the American team that will try to end a 30-year winless streak in Europe.
Three people with knowledge of the decision confirmed the move to the AP on condition of anonymity because the PGA of America has yet to announce Johnson's selection.
It's not a surprise that the decision was made. The U.S. team has moved toward captains with previous involvement, and Johnson has been an assistant captain each of the past two matches.
Marco Simone is scheduled to play in Italy in 2023. The Americans beat Europe 19-9 in the Ryder Cup in September, their biggest victory in the competition.
The committee that picked the next captain was made up of three players and three executives from the PGA of America.
Europe has yet to announce its captain, a process that has been slowed as some candidates contemplated joining a Saudi-funded rival league that has yet to get off the ground.
Johnson was part of the team that played in five of the Ryder Cups, as well as winning 12 times on the PGA Tour, including the Masters in 2007, and The Open in 2015.
He joined Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead as the only players to win at Augusta National and St.
The Americans have not won a victory away from home in the past 13 years, and their last victory away from home was in 1993 at The Belfry in England.
The 2020 matches were delayed one year because of the coronaviruses, so the Ryder Cup was moved back to odd-numbered years. Because of travel restrictions, Americans dominated the house of fans at Whistling Straits.
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