06 July 2023 , 13:02
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Bubba Watson believes his RangeGoats teammate Talor Gooch should "definitely" be included in Zach Johnson 's American Ryder Cup team at Marco Simone in Rome later this year.
Gooch has been in the form of his life in recent months, having won three LIV Golf titles in eight events this campaign. The latest came at Valderrama last week, after the American saw off fellow countryman Bryson DeChambeau to win the LIV Andalucia crown.
The 31-year-old wrote himself into the LIV record books, having become the first player to win three events on the circuit. It leaves Gooch in prime position to become LIV Golf's 2023 champion, leading the individual standings with six events still to play.
The American star's career-best form appears to have come at the right time, with this year's Ryder Cup on European soil growing ever closer.
There were question marks as to whether LIV players would be included in this year's team event, but four-time Ryder Cup player Watson believes Gooch should be there alongside the PGA Tour's in-form man Rickie Fowler. Speaking ahead of LIV London, the RangeGoats skipper said: "Well, he [Gooch] has to be [in the Ryder Cup team].
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"Gosh, I don't know where Rickie Fowler is on the Ryder Cup standings, but he's got to be up there, too. But I would have to say those two have been the impressive ones the last few weeks, just their high finishes and how they've been playing pretty much all year.
Talor Gooch has led the way for the RangeGoats (GETTY)"If they're not already, if Rickie is not already in points, he's definitely getting a pick, and Talor should definitely get a pick. He's playing that well, and he plays really good outside the U.S." Gooch will no doubt be required to forge away into the American setup via a captain pick, with the 31-year-old's PGA Tour ban leaving he way behind in qualifying rankings.
Amid Watson's backing, there was some good news for Gooch and co after Zach Johnson opened the door to LIV stars to be included. "These guys that left the PGA Tour that had status and left to play on that other tour, the LIV Tour, they're still members of the PGA of America, so they are still able to garner points," the captain admitted.
"They're able to play in the PGA Championship as a result because that's what the PGA of America runs. Obviously, technically, they can still be a part of Team USA." An inclusion in this year's team would be a first for Gooch, having never previously been called up to the U.S. Ryder Cup setup.