adam schupak
·5 min read
The picks are in and U.S. Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk has settled on his 12-man squad that will seek to continue America's domination of the biennial team competition against the rest of the world (minus Europe).
Furyk selected Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns, Tony Finau, Brian Harman, Russell Henley and Max Homa.Georgia grads Harman and Henley are both set to make their debut at the Presidents Cup while Bradley returns to repping the Stars and Stripes as a player for the first time since 2013.
Furyk had a few tough phone calls to make, including to Justin Thomas and Billy Horschel, who were both on the U.S. side in 2022, and Akshay Bhatia, who was seeking to make his first team.
The Presidents Cup returns to the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal the week of Sept. 24-29.
Here's a closer look at the six captain's picks.
Presidents Cup: Meet the six U.S. automatic qualifiers
Sam Burns
Sam Burns is making his third consecutive appearance in U.S. team competition. He went 0-3-2 at the 2022 Presidents Cup and 1-2 at the Ryder Cup in Rome last year. The partnership between him and pal Scottie Scheffler hasn't fared well so far. Burns, 28, was winless this season but played well in the FedEx Cup and qualifies as a hot hand.
Captain Furyk on Burns: “Sam is a great player who has consistently put himself on leaderboards over the last four years. He has proven to excel in match play competition and demonstrates an unwavering level of passion and determination on the course, which will be a great asset for our team in Montreal.”
Keegan Bradley
Keegan Bradley returns to the Presidents Cup for the first time since 2013 when he had a record of 2-2-1. Bradley was left off the U.S. Ryder Cup team last season but was name the 2025 U.S captain in July. Furyk named Bradley an assistant captain but that was before he notched the seventh win of his PGA Tour career at the BMW Championship after entering the week at No. 50 in the FedExCup. The victory, which was one of three top-10s on the season, allowed him to advance to the Tour Championship for the sixth time in his career.
Captain Furyk on Bradley: “When I named Keegan as a captain’s assistant for the Presidents Cup I knew there was a chance he would play his way onto the U.S. Team, and I can say without a doubt he did just that. The grit he showed in the final round in Memphis followed by the win in Denver exemplified the competitive nature he has always played with, and I know he will bring that same fire to Royal Montreal in a few weeks.”
Tony Finau
Tony Finau is set to make his third Presidents Cup appearance. He made the team in 2019 and 2022 and sports a 3-2-3 record. Finau ranked second this season in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green. He finished T-2 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open and matched his career-best finish in a major championship with a T-3 at the U.S. Open, finishing two shots behind winner Bryson DeChambeau.
Captain Furyk on Finau: “Tony is one of the best ball-strikers on the PGA Tour and his game pairs well with any of the other 11 players given his consistency. He has become a stalwart in U.S. team competition and carries himself with a fun, outgoing demeanor which is contagious on the course and in the team room.”
Brian Harman
Brian Harman is making his Presidents Cup debut one year after making his maiden Ryder Cup appearance for Team USA. Harman, the winner of the 2023 British Open, failed to get back into the winner's circle but recorded three top-10 finishes including a T-2 at the Players Championship. He finished 31stin the FedEx Cup.
Captain Furyk on Harman: “Throughout his career, Brian has been one of the fiercest match play competitors I’ve seen. His grit and tenacity were on full display winning the 2023 Open Championship, and I’m looking forward to having that mindset on our side at Royal Montreal.”
Russell Henley
Russell Henley didn't win during the 2024 season but the four-time Tour winner enjoyed one of his best seasons, finishing T-4 in the Tour Championship. He's become a top ballstriker and can be a streaky putter. He's one of the more underrated players on Tour and finally gets a shot at international team competition for the Stars and Stripes.
Captain Furyk on Henley: “Russell has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour these last two years, and I can’t wait to have him in Montreal with the U.S. Team next month. He is unflappable under pressure and without doubt one of the best putters in our game, which is a fantastic combination for match play success.”
Max Homa
Max Homa performed so well at the 2022 Presidents Cup, where he went 4-0, and was one of the few bright spots at the 2023 Ryder Cup that you can excuse Captain Furyk for overlooking the fact that Homa hasn't recorded a top-10 finish since May. The 33-year-old is a six-time Tour winner and seems to play his best golf in the biggest moments. He finished T-3 at the Masters in April.
Captain Furyk on Homa: “Max plays his best on the biggest stages, and that was on full display at the 2022 Presidents Cup and 2023 Ryder Cup. He was an emotional leader for both teams and someone who rallied the 11 players around him time and again, and I can’t wait to have him represent the U.S. again in Montreal.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Meet the six Team USA 2024 Presidents Cup captain's picks