Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
The Presidents Cup is almost here! Let’s see who could represent the USA Team and the International Team.
Welcome to Playing Through’s daily ritual — Golf Talk Today.
Each day, the crew will discuss various elements of the PGA Tour, LPGA, LIV Golf, and more.
Since we looked at the Solheim Cup yesterday, I wanted to discuss the Presidents Cup standings today.
Instead of just looking at Team USA, I will also include the International Team.
The Presidents Cup is Sept. 24-29 at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec, Canada.
Jim Furyk is Team USA’s captain, while Mike Weir is at the helm of the International Team.
Team USA is 12-1-1 all-time in the biennial event.
Let’s look at each team’s standings since the competition is around a month away!
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Top 6 in Team USA Presidents Cup standings
For Team USA, the Top six PGA Tour members with the most FedEx Cup points through August 25 will automatically qualify. Then Furyk will get six captain’s picks to round out the team on Sept. 3.
1. Scottie Scheffler:
2. Xander Schauffele:
3. Collin Morikawa:
4. Wyndham Clark:
5. Patrick Cantlay:
6. Sahith Theegala:
The first six out include:
7. Tony Finau:
8. Russell Henley,
9. Max Homa:
10. Brian Harman:
11. Sam Burns:
12. Akshay Bhatia:
It is safe to assume Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele secured their spot on the team. Past that, it will be interesting to see how the BMW Championship plays out to see the final qualifying leaderboard. The guys on the outside looking in need a solid week, possibly a win, and it could shift the entire President’s Cup standings.
Furyk’s captain’s picks are up in the air, though. He could go straight down the standings and take 7-12, but players outside that Top 12, like Billy Horschel, are playing better than Max Homa right now. Eric Cole and Denny McCarthy are two more names to watch as they have played well this season.
Davis Thompson could be a long-shot addition to this team if Furyk wanted to spice it up, but that is likely a longshot.
Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Top 6 in International Team Presidents Cup standings
The International Team also has six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks. However, they do not use FedEx Cup points but other requirements. The Official World Golf Ranking point system is the primary source for determining the team.
After the BMW Championship, the International team will announce its six qualifiers on Aug. 25. Weir will also announce his six captain’s picks on Sept. 3. To qualify automatically, golfers must compete in 15 or more OWGR-rated events to be eligible from Sept. 22, 2022, through Aug. 25, 2024.
1. Hideki Matsuyama
2. Tom Kim
3. Sungjae Im
4. Jason Day
5. Adam Scott
6. Byeong Hun An
The first six out include:
7. Corey Conners
8. Min Woo Lee
9. Cam Davis
10. Christiaan Bezuidenhout
11. Nick Taylor
12. Adam Hadwin
Weir will have a tough challenge because No. 7-12 are full of talented guys who could make great additions. However, Taylor Pendrith, Si Woo Kim and Mackenzie Hughes are the first three guys outside the top 12 and could also benefit the team.
Will Wier go with fellow Canadians, or will there be a specific strategy for his madness?
There will be nine players worthy of six spots, so it will be interesting to see who Weir chooses to try to dethrone this cutthroat American squad.
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Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.
