PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- PGA of America President Jim Richerson announced Monday (Feb. 28) that Drake men's golf alumnus Zach Johnson will serve as the United States Ryder Cup Team Captain for the 44th Ryder Cup, which will be played Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2023, at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy. 

Johnson becomes the 30th U.S. Captain since the Ryder Cup's inception in 1927. A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Johnson made his Ryder Cup debut in 2006 and played in five Ryder Cups (2006, '10, '12, '14, '16). Johnson has served as a U.S. Vice Captain in the last two Ryder Cups. 

"To accept this Captaincy, to lead this United States Ryder Cup Team abroad ー after what we accomplished last year at Whistling Straits ー is simply the greatest honor of my professional career," said Johnson. "I want to thank the PGA of America Ryder Cup Committee for this special opportunity. As exciting as this is for both my family and me, it is equally sobering to understand the scope of our challenge in Rome, as we have not won on the road in three decades. To win, we will have to outplay a European Team that will have both ample talent and motivation on their side. I am anxious to dig in and begin the process of putting our team in the best possible position to succeed." 

Johnson was a member of the Drake men's golf team from 1994-98 and helped the Bulldogs to two Missouri Valley Conference Championships as well as three NCAA Regional Tournaments.

"It's one of those situations where I'm a product of my environment," Johnson said. "Clearly Iowa is the place that shaped me, there's no question. It starts with my parents, clearly, and the many, many opportunities they gave me in sport."

The 46-year-old Johnson posted a 8-7-2 overall match record and was part of winning Ryder Cup efforts as a player in 2016 and as a Vice Captain in 2020. Johnson's two Major Championships, in the 2007 Masters and the 2015 Open, highlight 12 career worldwide victories.