Snedeker surprised by Thomas' bond with rookie Koivun
The short version
- Brandt Snedeker said Jackson Koivun has existing relationships with Justin Thomas and Russell Henley
- Thomas began mentoring Koivun before the Presidents Cup selection process
- Koivun, 21, is a rookie with only a few months of professional experience
- The selection is aimed partly at preparing Koivun for next year's Ryder Cup
US captain Brandt Snedeker says he did not realize how close Justin Thomas and Presidents Cup rookie Jackson Koivun were before this week.
United States Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker said he discovered during team preparations that 21-year-old rookie Jackson Koivun arrived with closer ties to the American squad than he expected.
Snedeker told reporters ahead of the event that Koivun plays frequently with Russell Henley and has long looked up to Justin Thomas, who began mentoring the young pro well before the selection process. The captain said he was unaware of those relationships until recently.
"Now when Jackson walks in a room, he's got a couple of friendly faces that he knows, and that makes the transition so much easier," Snedeker said.
Koivun turned professional only months ago but was selected to the team, with an eye toward integrating him before next year's Ryder Cup. Thomas, a two-time PGA Championship winner whose recent form has drawn questions about his selection, is widely regarded as a leader in the US team room.
