This week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Love is competing in his first Tour start since April. He is included in one of the featured groups, possibly not by coincidence, along with Will Zalatoris and Cameron Young. They both are expected to be first-timers at Quail Hollow in late September.
Love told reporters on Wednesday at Detroit Golf Club, "I've learned a lot already, and it's been a fantastic week for me to be out there.
Love played a practice round with Zalatoris, will play golf with the former Wake Forest athletes for the first two days, and then has dinner plans with potential team members for the next three nights.
For the U.S. captain, the past several months have been strange as the Tour continues to deal with the effects of more than a dozen players switching to the rival LIV circuit. These players are declared ineligible for the biannual matches and consequently suspended indefinitely from the Tour.
If Talor Gooch had continued on the Tour, he would have been eligible for a possible captain's pick. Although Jason Kokrak finished 15th overall, he will play in his first LIV game this week at Trump Bedminster. Team USA regulars Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Patrick Reed will also be absent from this year's competition, which is set for September 22–25.
Abe Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen are two players that have been disqualified from the International team, which Trevor Immelman coaches.
Love added, "It's awful that we have to skip over items on a list.
"It's been a little harder on Trevor than on me, but I know the guys vying for the squad today are incredibly devoted to the PGA Tour and are enthusiastic about the Presidents Cup," said Woods. The players, our statistical crew, and our assistant captains are all conducting themselves as usual. Even though it is a diversion, it is business as usual.
When asked if Tiger Woods, the winning playing captain in 2019, would be interested in participating, Love responded that he could appoint two additional vice-captains as early as next week.
"I believe it's similar to his golf game in that he wants to play, but does he have the ability to do so?
Love remarked. He enjoyed immensely watching the Ryder Cup [in 2021] with Justin [Thomas'] father. I believe he wants that role a little bit more, and he is undoubtedly on my short list of people to consult when I plan anything significant for the Tour.
Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth would be the six automatic qualifiers. The positions 7 through 12 in the rankings are held by Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Zalatoris, Billy Horschel, and Tom Hoge.
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