Not LIV.

Koepka stands out for many reasons on golf's biggest stages, mainly because he wins at so many of them as a five-time major champion. The obvious reason at Marco Simone is being the only player from Saudi-funded LIV Golf League who made it back to the ultimate team event.

"I didn't notice," Koepka said sardonically when this was brought to his attention.

It wasn't a problem for U.S captain Zach Johnson, who used one of his six wild-card selections on Koepka.

"An easy pick," Johnson said.

It's not a problem for the rest of the American team. Koepka lives near four of them in Florida, shares an agent with Scottie Scheffler and has remained friendly with everyone.

Just don't get the idea Koepka is carrying the flag for LIV Golf.

"I feel like I'm representing the USA. That's what I've got on the front of my hat this week, so that's what I'm representing," Koepka said.

"It's not a group of individuals in that locker room. We're just all one team, and that's the way we think. That's what I believe, and I'm pretty sure everybody else there thinks that."

Twelve members from the last Ryder Cup – that includes vice captains – wound up signing with LIV Golf. So why is Koepka the only one at Marco Simone? He can only speak for the Americans, and typical of Koepka, he didn't need many words.

"Play better," he said.

"I feel like I'm representing the USA. That's what I've got on the front of my hat this week, so that's what I'm representing." – Brooks Koepka.

That was a subtle message to the rest of the Americans with LIV – notably Bryson DeChambeau – that everyone had a path back, no matter how difficult.

The PGA of America kept the door open for LIV players in the Ryder Cup. But the points are based on official money at the PGA Tour, which suspended all LIV players. The only access were the majors. DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Phil Mickelson were eligible for all the majors, just like Koepka was.

He was runner-up at the Masters and won the PGA Championship. That was nearly enough to make the team on points. Koepka finished just outside the top-six, and became an obvious pick.

"He's built in my mind for the biggest stages," Johnson said when picking Koepka.

DeChambeau won his second LIV Golf event last week in the Chicago area and argued more players from the rival league should have been considered. DeChambeau won his first LIV event at the Greenbrier with a 58 in the final round.