Zach Johnson relies on experience in selecting Davis Love III as Ryder Cup vice-captain

Zach Johnson has picked Ryder Cup vice-captains who know what it takes to win the biennial match-play competition against Europe — and he kept it within the Golden Isles family.

Johnson has named Davis Love III, who led the U.S. to victory in the 2016 Ryder Cup, as his second vice-captain, following an earlier appointment of 2021 Ryder Cup-winning captain Steve Stricker.

Both Johnson and Love at St. Simons Island, Ga., residents.

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The 2023 Ryder Cup is Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome.

"I've been involved in the Ryder Cup since 2006, and I can tell you, without a doubt, that Davis Love III's passion for the event is unmatched,” said Johnson in a statement. “As I thought about the 2023 U.S. team and those who we'd ask to serve as a vice-captain, there was no doubt that Davis would be one of those individuals. I will lean heavily on [his] experience and insight."

In addition to the 2016 Ryder Cup, Love led the U.S. to a victory in the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. Love has been a Ryder Cup vice-captain in 2010, 2018 and 2021, and was the Ryder Cup captain in 2012.

"The Ryder Cup is one of the truly special events in all of sports, and I am so honored to be named a Vice Captain in Italy in 2023,” said Love in a statement. “Zach has worked tirelessly since he was named Captain, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes to help Zach and the entire U.S. Team to win in September."

Love played in six Ryder Cups and has 21 career PGA Tour victories, including the 1997 PGA Championship.

Mitchell, Harman among those named to PAC

Keith Mitchell and Brian Harman of St. Simons Island are among 16 players named to the Players Advisory Council for 2023. The PAC advises and consults with the PGA Tour Policy Board and commissioner Jay Monahan on issues affecting the Tour.

Also named to the PAC are Ryan Armour, Sam Burns, Corey Conners, Rickie Fowler, Brice Garnett, Max Homa, Mackenzie Hughes, Shane Lowry, Maverick McNealy, Henrik Norlander, Scottie Scheffler, Adam Scott, Kevin Streelman and Will Zalatoris.

McNealy, Scott and Streelman have been selected by the player-directors to run for PAC chairman, with balloting ending on Feb. 13. The leading vote-getter will replace Charley Hoffman on Jan. 1, 2024 the policy board and serve a three-year term (2024-26). The other player directors are Peter Malnati (2023-25), Rory McIlroy (2022-24), Webb Simpson (2023-25) and Patrick Cantlay, who is serving a one-year term (2023).

Change at the top could happen

This week's American Express has the best field since data was available in 2000, with five of the top-10 players on the world golf rankings, led by No. 2 Scottie Scheffler.

Not only that, current No. 1 Rory McIlroy could get replaced, depending on what happens this week at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.

Depending on various scenarios, Scheffler and No. 5 Patrick Cantlay could ascend to No. 1. No. 4 Jon Rahm, making his first start since winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions, can't get there due to the complex forumla that awards points on a two-year revolving system.

Other top-10 players in the field are No 6 Xander Schauffele and No. 7 Will Zalatoris.

Watch out for Cantlay. He has three top-10s in a row at PGA West and has the best stroke average (67.17) in the event since joining the tour in 2013-14.

Every, Love resurface in Asia

Two-time PGA Tour winner Matt Every of Jacksonville Beach and Dru Love of St. Simons Island, Ga., are playing in Asian Tour qualifying in Thailand this week. Seven of the tournaments on the Asian circuit offer $1 million or more in prize money but the catch is that it's bankrolled by LIV Golf.

Every won back-to-back titles at Bay Hill. Also trying to qualify is another two-time Tour winner, Sangmoon Bae.

The top-35 in the 90-hole event that began on Wednesday at the Lakeview Resort and Golf Club will earn their Asian Tour cards.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

ROAD TO THE PLAYERS

Dates: March 9-12, Players Stadium Court at TPC Sawgrass.

Tickets: theplayers.com.

Days until the first round: 49.

Tournaments until The Players: Eight.

Players trivia: The last member of the World Golf Hall of Fame to win The Players was Tiger Woods in 2013.

PGA TOUR

Event: The American Express, Thursday-Sunday, PGA West, La Quina, Calif.

At stake: $8 million purse ($1,440,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner).

Last year’s champion: Hudson Swafford.

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 3-7 p.m.).

Area players entered: Harris English, Brian Harman, Zach Johnson, Patton Kizzire, Philip Knowles, Russell Knox, David Lingmerth, Keith Mitchell, J.T. Poton, Sam Ryder, Greyson Sigg, Davis Thompson, Michael Thompson, Carl Yuan.

Notable: English shot 64 in the final round and beat Tom Hoge by two shots. … Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Si Woo Kim, Tom Kim, Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris lead the field.

LPGA TOUR

Event: Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, Lake Nona Country Club, Orlando.

At stake: $1.5 million purse ($225,000 to the winner).

Defending champion: Danielle Kang.

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Saturday, 12-3 p.m.); NBC (Sunday, 2-5 p.m.).

Area players entered: None.

Notable: Kang shot 68 in the final round and beat Brooke Henderson by three shots.

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Event: Mitsubishi Electric Championship, Friday-Sunday, Ka’uplehu-Kona, Hawaii.

At stake: $2 million purse ($300,000 to the winner).

Defending champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez.

TV: Golf Channel (Friday-Sunday, 7-10 p.m.).

Area players entered: David Duval, Fred Funk, Vijay Singh.

Notable: Jimenez beat Stephen Alker with a par on the second playoff hole. … Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Fred Couples and Bernard Langer lead the field of the opening tournament of the season.

KORN FERRY TOUR

Event: Greater Abacos Classic, Sunday-Wednesday, The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Bahamas.

At stake: $1 million purse ($152,272 to the winner).

Defending champion: Brandon Harkins.

TV: None.

Notable: Harkins defeated ZeCheng Dou with a par on the second playoff hole.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Going for experience: Zach Johnson appoints Davis Love III as vice-captain