Koivun doesn’t merit Prez Cup pick … yet
There has been a lot of talk among golf commentators about putting Jackson Koivun on the U.S. Presidents Cup team (“Koivun hops fast track to stardom,” July 29, GGP+). I think these experts should take a step back and consider the following points before arguing Koivun’s one win qualifies him to be one of our 12 best players.
1. Koivun won the 3M Open. The field had two players in the top 30 of the FedEx Cup standings, Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland. By comparison, Jacob Bridgeman won the Genesis Invitational, a signature event, and beat a much stronger field.
2. After turning professional, Koivun made the cut in two of his first three PGA Tour starts. Bridgeman made the cut in 18 of his first 19 starts this season.
3. Koivun’s victory moved him to 70th in the FedEx Cup standings, well behind Bridgeman at No. 13.
Picking Koivun over any player ranked in the FedEx Cup top 30 would be disrespectful to those players. In addition, his selection would mean a player ranked between 7-12 in the Presidents Cup standings would be bumped. How fair is that for someone who has played at a high level all season?
Koivun’s college success, while among the best ever, came against many players who will never make a PGA Tour start. As a pro, his success at this time is very similar to that of Matthew Wolff, who also won his first (and only) title at the 3M Open.
These talking heads are using the example of Scheffler, who was named to the 2021 U.S. Ryder Cup team even though he had yet to win a PGA Tour event. But keep in mind that the PGA of America owns the Ryder Cup and it is their call as to the captain and captain’s picks. The PGA Tour owns the Presidents Cup. I doubt that in this period of change and some unrest that CEO Brian Rolapp is looking for more controversy among his players.
Charlie Jurgonis
Fairfax, Virginia
On with it already
I totally agree with you (“Divot: Speed merchant,” July 27, GGP). Slow play, even at my home club level, is turning what should be an enjoyable round into a marathon of patience and perseverance. At the professional level I cannot understand why it takes so long for many players to make a shot. They constantly practice. In most cases they have played the course before. They have a caddie who knows the yardage and gauges the wind. There needs to be more pros like Ryan Fox on the tours.
Chuck Rishel
Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
An insult to Russian lit
You do a great disservice to Russian novels when you compare them to slow play in golf (“Divot: Speed merchant,” July 27, GGP). Please be more consideratesky in the future.
Vincent Schiavo
Hamburg, New Jersey
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