When Team USA lost the 2023 Ryder Cup in Spain, the clamor around was that Zach Johnson chose golfers from his boys’ club, implying only those who he knew, and made the team, which was alleged as the reason for the downfall of the American squad. But it seems that before the Presidents Cup starts in the next two days, there is some criticism regarding Jim Furyk’s picks. Just to be clear, the 12 golfers on the USA side are captain’s picks: Sam Burns, Russell Henley, Max Homa, Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman, Tony Finau; qualified through point list: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, and Sahith Theegala.
Among all 12, the controversial pick has been Homa and Harman. Previously, on the Smylie Kaufman show, the former PGA Tour pro and now golf analyst, Kaufman, made a point about how snubbing Justin Thomas might cost Furyk. Now, discussing the same in the latest episode, the 32-year-old agreed that if going by the Official World Golf Ranking, then these 12 golfers are the best to represent Team USA.
Kaufman also understood that the captain’s picks were chosen based on the style of gameplay, the Royal Montreal GC, and after discussions with Furyk’s assistant captain. But despite having a great record at the Presidents Cup and having many highly ranked players, there was a chance that missing Horschel may sink their ship this time. Thus, Kaufman said, “I think they got their work cut out for him.”
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Moreover, he spoke on behalf of those left out and said, “I can make a case for Billy Horschel, I can make a case for Akshay Bhatia, I can make a case for Justin Thomas, and I can make plenty of cases for guys that are on the team that shouldn’t be on the team.”
Do you think Jim Furyk’s blunt warning will motivate Team USA to perform better?
What do you think is the most impressive aspect of Billy Horschel’s career?
Do you think heavy rain will impact Scottie Scheffler’s performance at the Presidents Cup?
Which moment from the International side at the Presidents Cup was the most unforgettable?
Adam Scott’s emotional win
Hideki Matsuyama’s dominant performance
The team’s historic victory in 1998
via Reuters
Golf – European Tour – BMW PGA Championship – Wentworth Golf Club, Virginia Water, Britain – September 8, 2022 Billy Horschel of the U.S. during the first round Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
But why did the former PGA Tour pro think that the team that looked strong on paper may get defeated by the international team? Per Kaufman, the International Team is an underdog this year, and he gave the example of how captain Mike Weir chose Mackenzie Hughes (at the Procore Championship, Hughes finished T4, adding to his four top-15 scores), who has been putting great, and how the pick was kind of a reach that Americans may not get threatened by, but in reality, it may cause them the Cup.
The golf analyst expressed that Furyk also had a chance to choose a guy like Hughes, particularly Horschel, who was 17th on the point list, and say, “I’m trusting my gut on this [just as Weir did]; I’m going with Billy Horschel, and then he wins at Wentworth; you’re like, you know what, that would have been a great pick looking back,” alluding to Horschel’s BMW PGA Championship victory over Rory McIlroy last week.
And Kaufman is not wrong in saying that Horschel might have been the better choice. There are a few reasons why Horschel might have been better for Team USA than some other players and helped them to bag the 15th Presidents Cup.
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Who has had a better season? Billy Horschel, Homa, or Harman?
Undoubtedly, Billy Horschel started the 2024 season on the wrong foot as he missed two consecutive cuts after posting T18 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. However, once the season progressed, the 8-time PGA Tour winner picked up the pace and carded six top 15s, where he was T8 at the PGA Championship, won the Corales Puntacana Championship, and T7 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Moving to the last major of the year, at The Open, Horschel gave the best performance of the season and finished tied for second at the Royal Troon. Even at the three FedExCup Playoffs, the 37-year-old has T10, T22, and T23 results. And now the BMW PGA Championship W is just the cherry on top. On the other hand, Max Homa and Brian Harman did not win any events in the current season.
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Moreover, Homa was 70 at the St. Jude Championship and T33 at the BMW Championship, while he missed the cut at the Procore Championship. And Harman too was T50 and 25th in the first two playoff events. In the majors, Homa had just one T3 finish at the Masters, and Harman had no top-10 finishes. Even on the OWGR, Horschel is ranked higher at 17th, and Homa & Harman are ranked 22nd and 25th, respectively.
By far, Horschel had better results, but he could not come under Jim Furyk’s radar for the President’s Cup pick. Will this snub of the 8-time PGA Tour winner cost Team USA heavily in Montreal, as Kaufamn warned? It remains to be seen.
