In a historic move for Team USA, U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker has officially selected 21-year-old PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun as his final captain’s pick for the upcoming 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club.
Who is Jackson Koivun? PGA Tour Rookie’s Meteoric Rise
Jackson Koivun, a 21-year-old former Auburn standout who turned professional in June 2026, has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in golf. Just three months after leaving college, Koivun secured his first PGA Tour victory at the 3M Open in his third professional start, notably outplaying World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by three strokes.
By earning a spot on the 2026 U.S. Presidents Cup roster, Koivun becomes the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2013 to start a season without a PGA Tour card and make a U.S. team. His amateur record includes sweeping all three national player of the year awards (Haskins, Hogan, and Nicklaus) twice during his collegiate career.
Full U.S. Captain's Picks for Presidents Cup 2026
Captain Brandt Snedeker finalized his 12-man U.S. roster by making six captain's picks to join the six automatic qualifiers. The full U.S. lineup heading to Medinah includes:
- Automatic Qualifiers: Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley, Collin Morikawa.
- Captain's Picks: Jackson Koivun, Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Jacob Bridgeman.
Why Captain Brandt Snedeker Took a Chance on Koivun
Despite Koivun ranking 48th in the U.S. qualifying standings due to his late start on the tour in June, Snedeker bypassed veterans like Ben Griffin, J.J. Spaun, and Ryan Gerard to trust his gut instinct on the young phenom.
"I'm just so impressed by this young man," Snedeker shared during the official announcement on Golf Channel. "He brings a lot to our team room, he brings a lot to us in terms of pairings, and I know what this guy is capable of."
Koivun expressed immense gratitude for the selection, stating, "This has been a tournament I've grown up watching. I love team play, and I love playing for the United States of America. I'm just happy he took a chance on me, and I'm gonna give it my all."
