In a stunning move, Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk has selected a team of 12 players to represent the United States in the upcoming event, leaving out Justin Thomas for the first time since 2016. The decision comes as a blow to Thomas, who has been a stalwart player in international competitions, posting a 17-7-4 record in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup.

Furyk explained that the decision was based on a careful evaluation of the players’ performances throughout the season, considering their overall body of work, not just their recent results. Among the players selected were newcomers Sam Burns, Tony Finau, and Russell Henley, who are set to make their international debuts. Max Homa, who has not contended since the Masters in April, was another surprise pick.

International captain Mike Weir also had a tough decision to make, leaving out two Canadian players, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin, as well as Hughes, despite his impressive putting skills. Weir praised the duo for handling the news with respect, saying, “I love those guys. They’re like brothers, they’re Canadians.”

The six qualifying players for the International team include Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day, Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Byeong Hun An, and 44-year-old Adam Scott, who will be participating in his 11th straight Presidents Cup.

The Presidents Cup teams are set, with Justin Thomas missing out on his first selection since 2016. Furyk explained that the decision was purely based on merit, weighing the players’ overall body of work and other factors beyond just their recent performance. The tournament is all set to take place on September 27-30 at Royal Montreal, Canada, with the International team featuring three Canadian players.