Team USA captain Zach Johnson watches golfers on 11 during a practice day for the Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports

Zach Johnson ripped after advice turns costly for Jordan Spieth

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 9/30/23

Zach Johnson's run as Ryder Cup captain is going terribly.

Already facing criticism for the U.S.'s disastrous start to the 2023 Ryder Cup, Johnson made matters worse when his advice to Jordan Spieth backfired epically on Saturday.

Spieth was set to hit the tee shot with his driver until Johnson persuaded him to switch to a 3-wood. Then, Spieth promptly hit the ball into the water.

☠️ #LOOK: Zach Johnson tells Spieth to switch clubs… leading to a water ball ☠️ #RyderCup

pic.twitter.com/nZd83k1okM
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) September 30, 2023

Afterward, Johnson was heavily criticized for giving Spieth poor advice.

Zach Johnson just talked Spieth out of driver when they need a 2. STRAIGHT INTO THE WATER. WHAT IS HAPPENING!!!!!
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) September 30, 2023

Zach Johnson, talks Spieth off a club, then Spieth goes into the water after making the change.

May be a microcosm of ZJ’s captaincy.
— Matt Vincenzi (@MattVincenziPGA) September 30, 2023

Yesterday, Zach Johnson said it was the only the second quarter. Now it’s getting close to the end and he’s only got 10 men on the field.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) September 30, 2023

Chalk up his error on Saturday as another in a line of miscues for the embattled U.S. Ryder Cup captain. His opening-day pairing of Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns drew criticism from Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, who said, "They've had a long time to look at data and I'd love to see the data where Scheffler and Burns is the best team to put out there first."

"I was surprised it wasn't Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele to go out there first and meet strength to strength," he added, noting Burns' poor driving accuracy, among other shortcomings, as a reason why Johnson missed the mark with the pairing.

He was also blasted for his pre-Ryder Cup strategy of resting the U.S. team for five weeks before the competition while Team Europe members played at the BMW PGA Championship from Sept. 14-17.

Per Golf Digest, Sky Sports analyst Andrew Coltart blasted Johnson, saying, "Who on earth in their right mind thinks the best way to prepare for a Ryder Cup is to take five weeks off? Nine of 12 American players took five weeks off. That's disgraceful."

More must-reads: