Brandt Snedeker has challenged JJ Spaun to ‘make me look like an idiot’ after omitting the former US Open champion from his Presidents Cup squad.
Spaun became only the third American to win the BMW PGA Championship, alongside Arnold Palmer and Billy Horschel, and the first debutant to claim the title since Byeong-hun An in 2015.
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JJ Spaun reflected on his win at the BMW PGA Championship
Spaun admitted he took to the course with a ‘huge chip on his shoulder’ at Wentworth, determined to prove a point and using his Presidents Cup snub as extra motivation.
“As captain, you have to make tough decisions, and we were looking at 15 or 16 players,” Snedeker said, naming Ryan Gerard, Akshay Bhatia, and Gary Woodland – a US vice-captain at this year’s Presidents Cup – as close calls. “You have to make those tough choices, and the best advice I got from coaches and peers is to trust your gut. My gut was telling me one thing.”
Was Spaun Overlooked for Selection?
The 12-man US team features 21-year-old PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun and Ryder Cup veteran Patrick Cantlay, both of whom finished outside the top 12 in the Presidents Cup points standings. Last year’s US Open champion Spaun, 36, was overlooked despite ranking 10th. Spaun also won the Valero Texas Open earlier this season and made his Team USA debut at last September’s Ryder Cup.
Spaun revealed he had productive conversations with Snedeker throughout the qualification campaign and believed he would make the team, but received the disappointing news in a brief phone call after the Tour Championship.
“It was a 45-second call,” Spaun said in his press conference. “They simply told me I wasn’t on the team and that I was the odd man out. I wished him luck and that was it. Those past conversations led me to believe I would make the team.”
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JJ Spaun won the BMW PGA Championship after Manuel Elvira carded a nightmare seven on the final hole of the tournament
“I was determined to prove something this week,” Spaun said. “My entire career, I’ve had to do that. I wasn’t given scholarships, I earned my PGA Tour card the hard way, and I never received sponsor invites – I just had to do everything the hard way. Being left off was obviously for a reason. I don’t know what that reason was, but I’m here now, and there was a reason we’re here. My caddie kept telling me that, and it’s crazy how this has happened.”
