Securing Automatic Entry for Top World Union Rankings
USA's Schauffele, Schofield, Clark, Morikawa to Compete
Six Captain's Picks to Be Announced After Tour Championship
The Korean trio secured their eligibility to participate in the Presidents Cup, a men's golf competition between the United States and the International Team.
The PGA Tour and the Presidents Cup organizing committee announced on the 25th (local time) the list of players who automatically qualified for this year's Presidents Cup representing the United States and the International Team. Among the top 6 players in the world rankings from the International Team were Im Sung-jae (20th), Kim Joo-hyung (22nd), and An Byeong-hun (34th). Joining the International Team were Hideki Matsuyama (7th, Japan), Adam Scott (21st), and Jason Day (29th, both from Australia).
Im Sung-jae will be participating in the Presidents Cup for the third time, following 2019 and 2022. Kim Joo-hyung and An Byeong-hun will be making their second appearances. Notably, Kim Joo-hyung made a significant impact during his debut by sinking a putt that secured victory in the foursomes match on the third day of the 2022 tournament, followed by an enthusiastic celebration.
Im Sung-jae expressed, "The Presidents Cup is a tournament everyone wants to participate in," adding, "It is exciting that world-class players gather to form teams with the single goal of beating the United States, competing against each other, and each time it offers a unique experience." Kim Joo-hyung also stated, "The Presidents Cup is truly special as the only tournament where international players compete in a team match format. I want to contribute to the team with the passion I have." An Byeong-hun said, "I am happy to return to the Presidents Cup and feel good about achieving this year's goal. I hope not to miss this opportunity again," and added, "I want to play great matches in the tournament and contribute many points to the team."
The Presidents Cup, where the International Team excluding Europe faces the United States, features 12 players from each team. Six players are selected based on world rankings, and the remaining six are chosen by each team's captain. This year, the event will be held in Montreal, Canada, at the end of September. From the United States, world number one Scottie Scheffler leads the players who secured their spots automatically, including Xander Schauffele (2nd), Wyndham Clark (5th), Collin Morikawa (6th), Patrick Cantlay (9th), and Sahith Theegala (15th).
The captain's picks for each team will be announced in early next month after the Tour Championship, the final event of the PGA Tour Playoffs. The Presidents Cup began in 1994 and has been held 14 times through 2022. The United States holds a dominant record with 12 wins, 1 tie, and 1 loss. Especially since 2005, the United States has been on a nine-match winning streak.
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