JJ Spaun uses Presidents Cup snub as fuel to win BMW PGA, Jacob Bridgeman stays hot in first fall series event
The Presidents Cup tees off Thursday at Medinah Country Club in Illinois, and the American squad arrives with a mix of familiar faces and a pair of storylines that highlight both vindication and opportunity.
JJ Spaun arrived at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth carrying a mix of frustration and determination. The 36‑year‑old, who earned a spot on the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team and finished 10th on the Presidents Cup points list, had been passed over for a captain’s pick by U.S. skipper Brandt Snedeker. Snedeker used four of his six selections on players ranked below Spaun, also overlooking Ben Griffin, who sat eighth in the standings. Spaun’s season had been uneven: a win at the Valero Texas Open in April, three additional top‑10 finishes, and a mid‑year shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw from the Tour Championship. Going into the BMW PGA, he had managed only one top‑20 result since mid‑June.
On Sunday, Spaun fired a closing round of 67 to clinch the tournament by two shots over a chasing group that included Aaron Rai, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Matt Fitzpatrick and Ryan Fox—all within three strokes of the lead. After the round he explained his motivation: “I played with a huge chip on my shoulder; I definitely had something to prove this week.” He added that missing the Presidents Cup roster had been disappointing and that he wanted to show he deserved a place on the team.
Across the Atlantic, Chris Gotterup captured the Biltmore Championship, the opening event of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall series, on the same Sunday. The victory marked his second win of the year and secured him a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup. Gotterup entered the week ranked 12th in the U.S. team standings before Snedeker called his name. A former Clemson standout, he has been one of the tour’s most consistent performers in 2026, posting 12 top‑25 finishes and missing just one cut in 24 starts. Though he has yet to break through in a major, Gotterup arrives at Medinah riding a wave of confidence that stems from his Biltmore win, a ninth‑place finish at the BMW Championship and a tie‑for‑fourth at the Tour Championship. Statistically, he sits 20th in the world rankings, leads the tour in strokes gained putting and is regarded as one of the best putters on the circuit.
The American roster also includes Jackson Koivun, a 21‑year‑old rookie whose presence could draw considerable attention alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler. While the United States has dominated the Presidents Cup since its inception in 1994 and remains the heavy favorite at Medinah, the selection process has sparked discussion. If Snedeker’s captain’s picks underperform, the argument that Spaun deserved a spot may gain traction, especially after his emphatic win at Wentworth.
As the teams prepare for the opening matches, the contrasting narratives of Spaun’s redemption drive and Gotterup’s steady ascent will add intrigue to a contest that, while often eclipsed by the Ryder Cup, promises a fresh glimpse of the next generation of American golf talent.