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Two big concerns become clear for the USA ahead of the Ryder Cup on day one of the Procore Championship

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images
Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images
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All eyes were on the Procore Championship on Thursday but the main focus was on the 10 United States Ryder Cup players competing in the event.

Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau are the only two American Ryder Cup players who aren’t playing in the Procore Championship this week.

Captain Keegan Bradley has been delighted with what he’s seen in Napa so far this week.

Bradley said it was amazing to see all of the Ryder Cup players walking the fairways together at the Procore Championship.

There were plenty of bright moments for the American team on day one in Napa.

Ben Griffin, Russell Henley and J.J. Spaun posted rounds of eight, seven and five-under par respectively.

Keegan Bradley during the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind
Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Bradley would have been delighted to see some of the more unsung players in his Ryder Cup squad showing some real form just two weeks away from the event.

However, the 39-year-old from Vermont will undoubtedly be waking up on Friday morning with two genuine worries.

Two clear concerns for the US Ryder Cup team on day one of the Procore Championship

Despite many of Bradley’s Ryder Cup players enjoying their opening rounds in Napa on Thursday, two of them in particular struggled badly once again.

Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas both failed to impress on day one of the Procore Championship.

They both posted rounds of even-par 72 and while that doesn’t seem horrendous, it’s worth remembering that they are both tied for 67th right now and are a full nine shots adrift of the leader, Mackenzie Hughes.

Now, Harris English, Patrick Cantlay and Cameron Young also shot rounds of 72. However, Thomas and Morikawa are the two players on the US Ryder Cup who have shown the most concerning form over the past few months.

Thomas has just two top-10 finishes to his name on the PGA Tour since mid-May while Morikawa has only one.

Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Max Homa of the United States celebrate on the 18th green during the 2023 Ryder Cup
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Before Bradley made his Ryder Cup captain’s picks last month, many American fans and journalists widely agreed upon the fact that Thomas would be on the team, and they were obviously proven right.

However, Morikawa’s place on the US team was very much up for debate. There are still plenty of fans who believe the 28-year-old should not have been picked.

The truth of the matter is that Bradley himself may well have been a better option than Morikawa.

His form has not improved since April. In fact, it has got worse, and it has been well documented that Bethpage Black is a really poor fit for the two-time major champion, what with his lack of distance off the tee.

However, there is a ray of light on the horizon.

No need to panic for fans of the US Ryder Cup team just yet

There are still three rounds left to play at the Procore Championship, dependent on whether Morikawa and Thomas make the cut of course.

And then there are a full two weeks between now and the start of the Ryder Cup.

StatsThomasMorikawa
Strokes gained off the tee2515
Strokes gained approach78109
Strokes gained around the green4927
Strokes gained putting117112
Strokes gained totalT-67T-67

The approach and putting stats for both players will be a major worry for Bradley. Strong iron play and putting are both so important in match-play in order to put pressure on your opponents.

However, anyone who plays our great game will know that things can change in an instant. After all, form is temporary, but class is permanent.

Still, Bradley and the American Ryder Cup fans will be praying that Morikawa and Thomas find something over the next three days of the Procore Championship.

Their underwhelming performances at the Silverado Resort on day one would undoubtedly have been a cause of concern for everyone involved with the US Ryder Cup team.