Jackson Koivun is a Pick For the Present, Not the Future

It happens every two years.

Even though there’s no evidence which suggests any correlation between the United States’ success in the Presidents Cup and deficiency in the Ryder Cup, a large subsection of observers believes the former should “help” the latter by adding young players to the roster in order to provide them with experience in team competition.

The argument goes a little something like this: Name a few talented young players to the Presidents Cup roster, then watch ‘em blossom in a similar format the next year.

On Tuesday, U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker announced his half-dozen wildcard selections to this year’s Presidents Cup squad – Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Jacob Bridgeman and Jackson Koivun, the last of whom is a 21-year-old phenom with a PGA Tour win on his profile and numerous team selections potentially in his future.

That pick seemingly fits the ongoing narrative.

Except, it doesn’t.

Koivun isn’t a choice for the future. He’s a pick for the present.

Think about it: While a majority of American golf fans are already more interested in the makeup of next year’s Ryder Cup roster than anything which will take place at Medinah Country Club later this month, that’s not Snedeker’s concern. His job is to maintain a 28-year winning streak in this event and avoid forever becoming known as the captain who lost as a massive favorite.

“I spent a lot of time researching him,” Snedeker said. “I spent a lot of time talking to people who know him and who coached him and have spent time with him. Every conversation I had, I came away more impressed. So, I’m super excited to have him on the team. I’m super excited to see what he brings. I’m super excited for him to kind of show the world who he is. I think he brings a lot to our team room. He brings a lot to our pairings. Just super excited to have him on.”

That doesn’t sound like a captain who’s offering up a sacrificial lamb just to ensure a few at-bats before next year’s festivities at Adare Manor.

Even hinting at such a strategy is a fool’s errand. Two years ago, public outcry called for amateur Luke Clanton to be one of the six captain’s selections in advance of the following year’s Ryder Cup. He wasn’t named to the team and one year later, he wasn’t even in the conversation.

The reality is, there’s never been any indication to suggest that a correlation exists between these two events.

Tiger Woods owned a career record of 27-15-1 in the Presidents Cup. Phil Mickelson was 26-16-13. Neither of them parlayed those results into winning Ryder Cup records.

The likes of Schauffele, Thomas and Cantlay were each criticized as “same ol’, same ol’” selections this week, players who are continually handed opportunities to compete for the U.S. team. But again, this needs to be specific to the competition. That trio has a combined 30-10-2 record in the Presidents Cup, begging the question: Why are so many trying to fix something which isn’t broken?

The U.S. owns an 11-0-1 record in this event since 1998, giving this rivalry something of the hammer-and-nail relationship.

Constant criticism of the decision-making process feels akin to criticism of the Harlem Globetrotters anytime the Washington Generals cut it to a single-digit deficit.

And yet, here we are, like clockwork on this two-year calendar, calling for solutions to a process which continues to generate positive results.

None of which is to suggest that Koivun won’t help this team. Or next year’s team. Or continue stacking these experiences until he’s a wily veteran and team fixture on these rosters.

Just don’t buy into the narrative. He’s not on this team because of what he means to the future. He’s on the team because of what he can do for it in the present.