Brandt Snedeker made 'mistakes.' But his biggest decision won the U.S. the Presidents Cup

U.S. Team captain Brandt Snedeker admitted to making “mistakes” as Team USA trailed at the Presidents Cup at Medinah, including questionable pairings and benching Scottie Scheffler during foursomes. However, as the dust settled, one thing was clear: Snedeker’s biggest decision, made a month prior, ultimately won the Americans the cup. He chose to save 21-year-old rookie Jackson Koivun, who turned pro in June, to serve as the foil to the Internationals’ star, Si Woo Kim.

With the match critical to the U.S. comeback, Koivun found himself 2-down through 10 holes against Kim but rallied by winning the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 15th to take a lead. Standing on the 18th tee with a 1-up advantage, Koivun striped his tee shot down the middle. He then delivered the “shot of the day” with his 8-iron, placing his approach just eight feet from the pin. Moments later, he secured a 2&1 victory, giving the U.S. a vital point to reach 14.5 and sealing the comeback.

A month earlier, Snedeker’s decision to select Koivun over experienced veterans had been the subject of intense debate. Unlike previous U.S. captains who might have prioritized points standings, Snedeker took a page out of Luke Donald’s book by trusting a burgeoning talent. Koivun finished the week 2-0-1, the only player not to lose a single match.

“I put him in a big spot today, a really big spot,” Snedeker said of his captain’s pick. “He went out there and looked like the stud we know he’s going to be.” Justin Thomas, Koivun’s mentor for the week, echoed the sentiment, praising the 21-year-old's maturity. Ultimately, Snedeker’s willingness to look past traditional points rankings to select a generational talent proved to be the difference-maker that saved the Americans from a Presidents Cup debacle.