RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesU.S. captain Brandt Snedeker has an opportunity to finally break the mold: Put Jackson Koivun on the United States Presidents Cup team as one of six captain's selections.
Who cares that he's only 21 years old? Who cares that he is a part of the new era of players? Who cares that he still has so much to prove as a professional?
If the U.S. leadership for the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup (especially the latter) truly cares about building for the future while also giving its teams the best chance of winning, Koivun undoubtedly should be on the 12-person squad in two months at Medinah. The notion of the boys club has to go. The goal should be to pick the 12 best players and to use Medinah as a test run for Adare Manor next fall's Ryder Cup.
It would be almost idiotic to not pick Koivun. Break it down: Koivun won the 3M Open on Sunday, topping World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by three shots for his first professional win in his third start since turning pro. As his victory came into focus, more and more people clamored on social media for him to be on the Presidents Cup team. The win gave him seven total in the calendar year, more than any other player in the world.
He finished his amateur career as one of the best ever, amassing 11 collegiate wins, helping Auburn win two national titles and making his PGA Tour impact known well before he turned pro. Koivun missed the cut in his pro debut this month at the John Deere Classic, but other than that lackluster start, his worst finish in a professional event dating to last summer's U.S. Open was a T-23 at this year's U.S. Open.
Look back to the 2025 Walker Cup, the amateur equivalent to the Ryder Cup. Last fall at Cypress Point, Koivun played in the lead match all four sessions and went 3-1, including wins in both his singles matches against a top-10 player in the world, Tyler Weaver. Koivun was the heart and soul of the U.S. team, and he rose to the occasion when he got to wear the red, white and blue.
Why wouldn't you want someone like that on your team?
Now, in only his third pro start, he has backed up every single iota of hype he received the last few years. Data Golf ranks Koivun as the best amateur golfer since 2010. Better than Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa or Ludvig Aberg.
Speaking of Aberg, consider how the Europeans deployed him in 2023. He became the first player to suit up in a Ryder Cup without competing in a major championship. He won a DP World Tour event, the European Masters, to prove his worth to captain Luke Donald as a young player who was going to be the future of an aging Team Europe. He went 2-2 in Rome and has helped Europe win consecutive Ryder Cups.
Koivun not only won a bigger event in the 3M Open, his world ranking is higher and his resume is better than Aberg's was, both having turned pro after their college season ended at the national championships.
Let Koivun gain his first professional international experience at home in the Presidents Cup. Test him in possible pairings with players to gain experience and prep ahead of Adare Manor and the Ryder Cup. Sure, the Presidents Cup is important, but it pales in comparison to the Ryder Cup, for which the Americans should be preparing.
To be prepared, it's important to have the best players on the team. Koivun is a budding superstar. Give him his first shot now.
Koivun is ranked 51st in the U.S. standings, though that's nearly irrelevant considering he would be a captain's pick and, again, has been a pro for a whole three events. In Data Golf's rankings, he's 30th in the world, ahead of other players who will likely need captain's picks such as Akshay Bhatia, Jacob Bridgeman, Patrick Reed and others. While those players and others have much more pro experience and have won some of this year's biggest events, Koivun is likely to be a fixture on U.S. international teams for years to come.
Snedeker has a difficult decision ahead, and if Koivun continues to play well in the coming weeks, it could simplify his choice. But even as of now, Koivun has done enough to deserve a spot on the team. For now, and for the future.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: The U.S. team needs Jackson Koivun at the Presidents Cup, now and for the future
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