For the first time since 2012, the American Presidents Cup Team will be without the likes of Jordan Spieth or Justin Thomas after Captain Jim Furyk opted to follow the form book with his final wildcard selections.
Spieth first made his debut in the biennial contest in 2013, while Thomas has been part of every American team event since 2017, but neither will join the US Team at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada later this month.
Spieth’s exclusion isn’t that surprising given he is taking a break away from the game after he underwent left wrist injury which has plagued him for the past 16 months.
But for Thomas, there’s no doubt he would have been thinking he’d have some involvement in the team with his experience in both the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, coupled with the fact that he is on the Ryder Cup committee.
“I’m obviously very bummed to not be joining the boys in Canada for @presidentscup, but completely understanding,” said Thomas on Instagram.
“Jim has put together a great team. I will be the first one pulling for them and watching, while using it as motivation to not miss a team event again as they are some of my favorite weeks I’ve had.
But the two-time Major champion cannot have too many complaints with Furyk, who selected the next top six players on the qualification standings.
That means a place on the team for Sam Burns, Tony Finau, Russell Henley, Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman and Max Homa, who had been ranked from 7th to 12th on the points table.
Introducing the 2024 United States Presidents Cup Team!
Voici l’Équipe des États-Unis de la Coupe des Présidents 2024 !#PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/oTy4jd6tgF
— Presidents Cup (@PresidentsCup) September 3, 2024
Bradley, who will captain the USA at the Ryder Cup next year, had already been due to take part in the September 26-29 showdown against the Internationals in Montreal as an assistant captain.
But after winning the BMW Championship and finishing 21st at the Tour Championship, he jumped up the standings to secure one of Furyk’s six picks.
“When I named Keegan as a captain’s assistant for the Presidents Cup, I knew there was a chance he would play his way onto the US team, and I can say without a doubt he did just that,” said Furyk, adding that Bradley’s recent form demonstrated “the competitive nature he has”.
“I know he will bring that same fire to Royal Montreal in a few weeks,” Furyk said.
The Americans’ opponents, the International Team, led by Mike Weir, selected South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Canada’s Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith and Mackenzie Hughes, South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Australia’s Min Woo Lee.
This marks the first time in Presidents Cup history in which three Canadian players will compete for the International Team.
