United States captain Jim Furyk has created intrigue ahead of this month’s Presidents Cup by going chalk.
Furyk’s six captain’s picks were selected from Nos. 7-12 on the team standings, announced on Tuesday. This decision means Keegan Bradley will be playing for Team USA for the first time in a decade, while Justin Thomas, a longtime American stalwart, will be left at home.
Other American picks include Sam Burns, Russell Henley, Max Homa, Brian Harman, and Tony Finau, with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, and Sahith Theegala securing automatic selections to the team.
The Presidents Cup will take place at Royal Montreal Golf Club from Sept. 26-29.
Furyk explained his picks as just trying to put the puzzle pieces together, noting that his decision to leave out Thomas was a tough omission. Bradley was initially set to be a captain’s assistant for Furyk but will now focus on playing instead.
International team captain Mike Weir selected Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Si Woo Kim, Min Woo Lee, and Taylor Pendrith. This Canadian-heavy team alongside captain Weir will also include Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, Adam Scott, Tom Kim, Jason Day, and Byeong Hun An.
United States Team Analysis
Furyk’s choices have raised questions as the team lacks current form and young talent. While the picks may seem fair, it misses out on the opportunity to include rising stars like Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia. The team composition raises doubts about its competitiveness and future outlook.
Despite picking based on standings, Furyk’s selections of Harman and Homa over more deserving players like Thomas highlight some questionable decisions. The emphasis on statistics and partner fit may have influenced these picks, but recent form and potential were seemingly overlooked.
International Team Analysis
Weir’s selections reflect a mix of recent performance, home advantage, and strategic choices. The Canadian-heavy team showcases talented players like Hughes and Pendrith, while overlooking others like Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor. Weir’s deliberate strategy emphasizes consistency and familiarity.
The choices made by Weir highlight a focus on recent form and the significance of playing in familiar surroundings for the Canadian players. The team’s lineup suggests a strong, versatile approach to the upcoming matches.
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(Top photo: Keyur Khamar / PGA Tour via Getty Images)