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Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer
GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy — Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler will miss the Saturday afternoon four-balls at the Ryder Cup after being benched by America captain Zach Johnson.
The U.S. heads into the afternoon session facing a massive 9½-2½ deficit, having lost the morning foursomes 3-1. Johnson has decided to shuffle his pack again for the afternoon session as the U.S. attempts to claw back some of the difference but has decided to leave out world No. 1 Scheffler and five-time major winner Koepka.
The two suffered a record defeat Saturday morning as they lost 9 and 7 to Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg in foursomes. It was the heaviest defeat suffered by a pair in Ryder Cup history across 18 holes in four-balls or foursomes.
Television cameras picked up Scheffler in tears at the 11th as he came to terms with the defeat. He has won just a half point in the competition after he and Koepka tied with Jon Rahm and Nicolai Hojgaard on Saturday.
Rickie Fowler was also left out, meaning his sole action in this year’s Ryder Cup came on Friday morning in the foursomes where he lost with Collin Morikawa against Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka.
The announced pairings mean just Max Homa from the America side will play in all five sessions. On the Europe side, Luke Donald has opted to rest Rahm, with Rory McIlroy and Hovland the only two playing all five for the hosts.
Four-ball pairings:
Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg vs. Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa
Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Hojgaard vs. Max Homa and Brian Harman
Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre vs. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth
Matt Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy vs. Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark
