Rex Hoggard has suggested that, as things stand, he is not sure how one American player outside the top 12 for qualification does not get on the Presidents Cup team later this year.
The Presidents Cup is edging closer, with many of the PGA Tour‘s best set to head to Royal Montreal for the 15th staging of the event.
Of course, America have an outstanding record in the competition, but the spirit the International team showed at Quail Hollow two years ago shows that the holders cannot be complacent – particularly when Mike Weir is surely likely to have a number of Canadian players to further inspire the home crowds.
Six players will qualify for each team, while the remaining six will receive captain’s picks. So, psychologically, it appears fairly important to end the qualification period in the top 12. However, one player who is below that mark right now is Justin Thomas, with the two-time major champion sat in 14th.
Justin Thomas tipped to get captain’s pick for Presidents Cup
Thomas was actually 15th in the standings for the Ryder Cup in Rome last year before receiving a captain’s pick from Zach Johnson. And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Hoggard suggested that he would make the cut again for him if the team was picked today.
“I was watching the early round coverage last week from Detroit on ESPN Plus, and I believe it was Mark Carnevale who I have a lot of respect for, but they were having a similar conversation, and his argument was for the six picks essentially, just go seven through 12, and I see where he’s coming from,” he said.
“Tony Finau would fit into that team well, certainly Max Homa you would think would fit into that team well, I’m not sure Brian Harman, you could make an argument outside, the way Akshay is playing right now, he’d be a pretty easy pick. So you’ve already made it through the first three or four.
“Where the conversation is going to happen is 10, 11, 12, and nothing against Chris Kirk and Russell Henley, who are 11 and 12, this is going to be tough for you. After that, you run into some interesting picks, like Justin Thomas who’s not playing his best golf, but is currently 14th on that list, and I don’t know how you leave him off that team as of right now.”
An impressive track record
Thomas is one of those players who seems to be able to put his form to one side when the team events come around.
Despite his tough season, only Max Homa, Brian Harman and Patrick Cantlay won more points for the Americans at the Ryder Cup last year than Thomas. And he won four points from five matches at the 2022 Presidents Cup.
Thomas relishes the chance to represent his country, and obviously matchplay can benefit those who are struggling to maintain their best form over a 72 hole tournament.
And if the 31-year-old remains around those top 12 spaces when qualification ends, it would be no surprise to see him get the call from Jim Furyk.
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