Rolfing: Team USA qualifiers likely shaped Spaun Presidents Cup snub
The short version
- J.J. Spaun won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth days after being left off the US Presidents Cup team.
- Mark Rolfing said the automatic qualifiers likely influenced captain Brandt Snedeker's decision.
- Rolfing said Spaun lacked the level of teammate support Scottie Scheffler had at Whistling Straits.
- Brendon de Jonge said Spaun's form and fitness made him too risky a pick.
Golf analyst Mark Rolfing says the six automatic qualifiers likely influenced Brandt Snedeker's decision to leave J.J. Spaun off the Presidents Cup roster.
J.J. Spaun's omission from the United States Presidents Cup team has drawn heavy scrutiny since he won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth days after the roster was finalized. Captain Brandt Snedeker left the 2025 US Open champion off the squad, a call that initially appeared tied to the injury that forced Spaun to withdraw from the Tour Championship.
Speaking on the Golf Channel, analyst Mark Rolfing said the six automatic qualifiers likely played a significant role in the decision, noting that captain's picks are rarely made by the captain alone. He compared the situation to Scottie Scheffler at Whistling Straits, where the team's players openly wanted Scheffler on the side.
Rolfing said he did not sense Spaun enjoyed that same level of support from teammates, which he believes ultimately hurt the 36-year-old's chances. He added that while Snedeker bears final responsibility, the automatically qualified players almost certainly voiced opinions on the pick.
Brendon de Jonge defended Snedeker on fitness grounds, pointing to Spaun's thin recent record — one top-25 in recent months, coming in the limited-field BMW Championship — and questioning whether a captain can risk a player who is not fully healthy across five sessions. Snedeker made the call before Spaun's win at Wentworth.
Snedeker's picks included Jacob Bridgeman, who won on the PGA Tour the same day Spaun triumphed at Wentworth, and amateur standout Jackson Koivun.
