Team USA must change its philosophy for 2024 Presidents Cup
An advertisement for the 2024 Presidents Cup recently surfaced featuring Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
For most people clicking through Instagram, there's nothing to this. Spieth and Thomas are two of the most recognizable players on the PGA TOUR and have been the faces of American golf for nearly a decade. Using them to drive ticket sales makes sense.
However, there's a problem with the picture choice. Not only does it show the two buddies having fun together (we'll get to that in a moment), but it also implies that both players will represent Team USA in Montreal.
Right now, that's a big assumption.
Thomas ranks 14th on the American points list, while Spieth is much further down at 24th. The top six at the conclusion of the BMW Championship on Aug. 24 automatically qualify for the team, leaving captain Jim Furyk with six picks to complete his 12-man roster.
If there aren't any changes and Furyk sticks with the next six on the points list, neither Thomas nor Spieth will be in Montreal.
But that seems unlikely based on recent team events, and there's a non-zero chance both will be on Team USA if Spieth shows any signs of life late in the season.
It's become a common occurrence for American captains to prioritize team-room chemistry over on-course performance.
"Buddy ball" was a term coined to describe the 2023 American Ryder Cup squad captained by Zach Johnson, who picked PGA champ Brooks Koepka (a no-brainer), Spieth, Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Sam Burns, and Collin Morikawa.
Everyone in golf knows how close Spieth, Thomas, and Fowler are, and it's believed the trio's friendship played a factor in Johnson's decision.
In Spieth's defense, he was eighth on the Ryder Cup points list and deserving of a spot. Fowler and Thomas, who ranked 13th and 15th respectively, were selected over Cameron Young (ninth) and Keegan Bradley (11th), which opened up Johnson's captaincy to criticism.
Thomas was the best performer of the three - none overly impressed - with a 1-2-1 record in Rome. Spieth earned a single point by going 0-2-2, and Fowler came up empty-handed.
While Johnson's picks were understandably scrutinized, he wasn't the first American captain to lean on chemistry over performance.
Kevin Kisner was picked in 2022 over Tom Hoge and J.T. Poston, who were both above Kisner in the points list. Kisner runs in the same circle as the cool kids on TOUR, whereas Hoge and Poston don't.
In 2021, Patrick Reed was left off in favor of Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler. That decision was far more understandable given Reed's disruptive antics following the USA's 2018 Ryder Cup loss.
For the most part, the USA's captain's picks in Presidents Cups don't matter much. The American team is blessed with a deep talent pool, and anyone within the top 20 on the points list could hold his own against the outmatched Internationals.
But Ryder Cup success is the ultimate goal. After the disastrous 2023 result, Team USA needs to change its philosophy.
The 2024 Presidents Cup is the perfect opportunity.
As of Friday, Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, and Sahith Theegala are the American team's automatic qualifiers.
The next two on the list are Max Homa and Tony Finau, and Furyk has no business leaving them off the team.
That leaves four spots for the following group (listed in order of current standings): Brian Harman, Akshay Bhatia, Chris Kirk, Russell Henley, Burns, Thomas, Hoge, Bradley, Poston, and Young. (Remember: LIV Golf members aren't eligible to participate in the Presidents Cup because the event is run by the PGA TOUR)
First, Bhatia has to be on the team, even if he slips a bit in the standings from his current 10th position. The 22-year-old's having a breakout season on the PGA TOUR, earning a victory and a near miss at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. All signs point toward Bhatia becoming a Ryder Cup member in the future, so it makes sense to get his feet wet while the Americans are heavy favorites on enemy territory.
Furyk's Bhatia decision will be a telltale sign as to whether or not the U.S. team is altering its captain's pick strategy.
Harman proved worthy of his place on the American team in Rome by earning two points alongside Homa. It's hard to imagine Furyk leaving Harman at home despite his lack of recent high-end finishes.
Henley also deserves a spot. He's been a model of consistency on the PGA TOUR this season, and DataGolf has him ranked 13th in the world, four spots ahead of Thomas.
Henley's never been on a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup team in his career. Inserting him into this loaded group is an ideal situation to figure out what he's capable of in a team setting - maybe the U.S. side is sitting on a hidden gem.
Furyk could also go with Bradley and make up for his 2023 snub. Perhaps Burns gets picked since he's partnered with Scheffler in the past - providing the world's No. 1 player with his preferred partner isn't a bad idea. Or maybe one of the bubble players ends the year on a high note with a FedEx Cup playoff win or a major title.
There are plenty of scenarios where Thomas and Spieth find themselves on the outside looking in.
How Furyk handles his selections will tell American golfers one thing: These coveted spots are for friends only, or the chance to represent the U.S. can still be earned.
The latter's the obvious route to take.