The 2026 U.S. Presidents Cup team is set, and one name is drawing more attention than most:Jackson Koivun. The 21-year-old former Auburn standout was selected as a captain's pick by U.S. skipper Brandt Snedeker, just months after turning professional.
The Unlikely Rise of a College Star
Koivun's journey from college golf to the Presidents Cup is extraordinary. He turned professional in June after an impressive amateur career. He played one last event as an amateur, the U.S. Open, where he finished T-23 and tied for low medalist honors.
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It took just three professional starts for Koivun to claim his firstPGA Tour victory.At the 2026 3M Open, he defeated world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by three strokes, shooting 25-under 259 and setting the tournament's 72-hole scoring record. The win immediately added to the hype surrounding the young golfer.
Koivun finished the regular season No. 70 in the FedExCup standings, earning the final spot in the Playoffs. That made him the first PGA Tour University No. 1 to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs in the same season he accepted PGA Tour membership.
Snedeker's Bold Selection
Koivun was one of six captain's picks announced Tuesday, joining Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Jacob Bridgeman and Patrick Cantlay. The six automatic qualifiers—Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley and Collin Morikawa—had already secured their spots.
Captain Brandt Snedeker spoke highly of Koivun, calling him a "generational player". On the selection broadcast, Snedeker said: "I think we took a long hard look at all these guys who were close, but Jackson what he did at 3M, what he's proven in his amateur career, what he brings to the table is something that I think that we wanted to take a hard look at and ended up going with him."
Snedeker also noted Koivun's maturity: "He's mature beyond his years. We did a ton of research through college coaches, through his amateur career, through talking to people and understanding who he was as a person. As great of a player as Jackson is, I think he's a better person than he is a player."
At just 21 years old, Koivun becomes thesecond-youngest Americanever selected for a Presidents Cup, behind only Jordan Spieth, who made the team at age 20 in 2013.
The U.S. Team at a Glance
| Player | Selection Method | Presidents Cup Record |
|---|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | Automatic | 3-5-1 |
| Cameron Young | Automatic | 1-2-1 |
| Wyndham Clark | Automatic | Rookie |
| Sam Burns | Automatic | 3-3-3 |
| Russell Henley | Automatic | 3-1-0 |
| Collin Morikawa | Automatic | 6-2-0 |
| Chris Gotterup | Captain's Pick | Rookie |
| Xander Schauffele | Captain's Pick | 10-4-0 |
| Justin Thomas | Captain's Pick | 10-3-2 |
| Jacob Bridgeman | Captain's Pick | Rookie |
| Patrick Cantlay | Captain's Pick | 10-4-0 |
| Jackson Koivun | Captain's Pick | Rookie |
Team Strengths and Strategy
Koivun brings several qualities that will help the U.S. side:
Clutch performance: His victory over Scheffler at the 3M Open demonstrated he can perform under pressure.
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Ball-striking prowess: Koivun's game is built on precision iron play, an asset in match play.
Experience in team formats: Snedeker watched Koivun play in the Walker Cup—golf's amateur version of the Ryder Cup where he operated effectively in a team environment.
Winning pedigree: Koivun was one of the most decorated college golfers ever, with a record-breaking career at Auburn.
Chris Gotterup, who had the seventh-most U.S. points and three wins during the regular season, will join Koivun and Bridgeman as rookies on the team.
Justin Thomas has significant Medinah experience, having won the BMW Championship there in 2019. Thomas has a combined Presidents and Ryder Cups record of 19-9-4 and is considered a match-play specialist.
What It Means for the U.S. Team?
The Americans enter Medinah as heavy favorites, having won the last 10 Presidents Cups. The U.S. leads the all-time series 13-1-1.
The event will take place at Medinah Country Club's Course No. 3 fromSeptember 24-27. The U.S. team will aim to extend its winning streak on home soil.
For Koivun, the selection is a remarkable achievement just months after leaving college. He said before the selection that he believed he could go out and win for the United States. Now he has the chance to prove it.
