Presidents Cup: Justin Thomas Left Off American Team, Keegan Bradley Makes Unexpected Return
Team Selection
Justin Thomas was left off an American team for the first time since 2016 when Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk went with the next six players in the team standings, a list that included Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. International captain Mike Weir also faced tough choices to round out his 12-player roster on Tuesday, none greater than leaving two of his fellow Canadians, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin, off the team for the Sept. 27-30 matches at Royal Montreal.
Canada will have three players on the International team, made up of countries from everywhere outside Europe.
Thomas’ Long Streak Comes to an End
Thomas had the longest active streak among Americans playing the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup. He relied on a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup last year when he didn’t qualify for the PGA Tour’s postseason. This time, he reached the Tour Championship but was No. 19 in the U.S. standings. Furyk took two players rated above him, former British Open champion Brian Harman and Max Homa, even though neither made it to the Tour Championship and both have been in pronounced slumps all summer.
His other picks were Sam Burns, Tony Finau and Russell Henley, who joins Sahith Theegala as the only American on the 12-man team who has never played in a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup.
Thomas’ Impressive Record in International Competitions
Thomas has a 17-7-4 record in both cups dating to his debut in 2017 at the Presidents Cup.
Weir selected three Canadians Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith and Mackenzie Hughes — along with Si Woo Kim of South Korea, Min Woo Lee of Australia and Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa.
Captains’ Decisions
Furyk said it was a difficult decision with JT, definitely a difficult call to make. "There are a bunch of guys that I would want on this team. But as a captain, you’re trying to make the best decision, put the best 12 guys together, fit the puzzle pieces together, the pairings together."
Weir began to choke up when talking about having to call Taylor and Hadwin with the bad news. Taylor etched his spot in Canadian lore when he won the Canadian Open last summer with an 80-foot eagle putt, and then followed that by winning the Phoenix Open in February.
The Teams
The six qualifiers for the International team were Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day, Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Byeong Hun An and Adam Scott, the 44-year-old Australian who will be playing in his 11th straight Presidents Cup. Scott has never been on the winning side. There was a tie in his 2003 debut in South Africa, and the Americans have won the last nine in a row.
The six Americans who qualified were Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay and Sahith Theegala.
Conclusion
The Presidents Cup is set to take place from September 27-30 at Royal Montreal, with the International team looking to break their nine-year losing streak. The Americans will be led by Jim Furyk, who has made some tough decisions in selecting his team. The International team, led by Mike Weir, will be looking to make history and bring home their first win in the competition.
FAQs
Q: Why was Justin Thomas left off the American team?
A: Thomas had the longest active streak among Americans playing the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup, but he was No. 19 in the U.S. standings and was left off the team in favor of other players.
Q: Who are the captains of the Presidents Cup teams?
A: Jim Furyk is the captain of the American team, and Mike Weir is the captain of the International team.
Q: Who are the players on the International team?
A: The International team consists of players from countries outside of Europe, including Canada, South Korea, Australia, and South Africa.
