During the traditional team dinner for the U.S. Presidents Cup squad, rookie Jackson Koivun found himself as the sole player without a significant other. The 21-year-old golfer was humorously surrounded by 15 wives and girlfriends of his teammates and captains for a group photograph.
Koivun, who joined the PGA Tour this season and won his first tournament at the 3M Open in July, was a somewhat surprising selection for the U.S. team. He is one of 12 players on the roster, with the others all having brought their partners to the event. This situation drew a parallel to a similar moment in 2016, when Rickie Fowler was the only single player on the Ryder Cup team and stood apart from his paired-up teammates during celebrations.
The U.S. team, heavily favored against the International squad, begins competition Thursday at Medinah Country Club. The team includes Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley, Collin Morikawa, Chris Goetterup, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Jacob Bridgeman, and Koivun. The selection of Koivun was noted, especially as JJ Spaun, the winner of the 2025 U.S. Open, was considered a notable omission and had expressed his disappointment.
Team captain Brandt Snedeker addressed the selection process, stating that decisions are often based on "gut instincts." He expressed confidence in Koivun's readiness for the team competition, despite the pressure of the event.
