Presidents Cup teams finalize qualifiers

With the end of the FedEx Cup Playoffs nearing, the qualifying period for the 2024 Presidents Cup has concluded. The BMW Championship’s conclusion marked the end of the selection process for the event set for next month at Royal Montreal Golf Club from September 26-29.

For the U.S. team, automatic qualifiers include four veterans and two newcomers. Scottie Scheffler, making his second Presidents Cup appearance, will lead the team. Collin Morikawa also returns for his second Cup, while Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay will play in their third Presidents Cup. Wyndham Clark, a U.S. Open champion, joins for the first time, and Sahith Theegala, who secured his first PGA Tour win last fall, rounds out the automatic qualifiers as a rookie.

Theegala praised Captain Jim Furyk, saying, “Jim has been awesome. He’s invited some guys over for dinners, and there was a pretty intimate one last week. He was just so pumped for me and proud of how I’ve played all year. I can’t wait to get on the team.”

The International team will feature two seasoned players returning to Montreal. Hideki Matsuyama will compete in his sixth Presidents Cup, and Adam Scott will make his 11th appearance, just one shy of Phil Mickelson’s record. Tom Kim, a rising global star, will make his debut alongside Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An, while Jason Day returns to the competition for the first time since 2017.

U.S. team automatic qualifiers:
1. Scottie Scheffler – 2nd appearance
2. Xander Schauffele – 3rd appearance
3. Collin Morikawa – 2nd appearance
4. Wyndham Clark – 1st appearance
5. Patrick Cantlay – 3rd appearance
6. Sahith Theegala – 1st appearance

Captain Furyk, along with his counterpart Mike Weir, will announce their six captain’s picks the Tuesday after the Tour Championship. Potential picks include Sam Burns, who has performed well recently, and Tony Finau, who narrowly missed the automatic cut. Other considerations are Max Homa, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, and Billy Horschel. Justin Thomas and young talent Akshay Bhatia may also be in the mix. Keegan Bradley, who has already qualified as an assistant captain, could potentially join the team as a player, adding another layer of complexity to Furyk’s decisions.

International team automatic qualifiers:
1. Hideki Matsuyama – 6th appearance
2. Sungjae Im – 3rd appearance
3. Adam Scott – 11th appearance
4. Tom Kim – 2nd appearance
5. Jason Day – 5th appearance
6. Byeong Hun An – 2nd appearance

Weir faces tough choices for the remaining captain’s picks. Corey Conners and Cam Davis are likely safe, having finished 7th and 8th in qualifying. Min Woo Lee, finishing 9th, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who had a strong debut performance, are also strong candidates. The final picks may come down to players ranked 11th through 15th in qualifying, including Si Woo Kim, Taylor Pendrith, Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, and Mackenzie Hughes, all vying for a spot to represent their home country.