Immelman Calls LIV Defections ‘Pretty Frustrating’ – Chooses 5 Rookies for Roster

The matchup between the United States and the International Team (all countries outside of Europe) in past Presidents Cups have been lopsided—the U.S. owns an 11-1-1 mark since the competition began in 1994—and if things are going to change at Quail Hallow in North Carolina later this month, a youth movement will have to propel the International Team.

The joining us at Quail Hollow #IntlTeam #PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/32kD2RbmlO

— Presidents Cup International Team (@IntlTeam) September 6, 2022

Si Woo Kim, a 2017 team member, joins rookies Taylor Pendrith, K.H. Lee, Cam Davis, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and Sebastian Munoz as wild-card picks by captain Trevor Immelman.

That group joins the six who automatically qualified last month: Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, Tom Kim, Adam Scott, Mito Pereira, and Corey Conners.

At least on paper, the team is at a significant disadvantage over the six who qualified for the U.S. team: Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, and Tony Finau. Five of the six won multiple times this year on the PGA Tour, and Thomas won the PGA Championship and finished fifth in the FedEx Cup standings.

“We understand exactly the mountain that we have in front of us – possibly the best American team ever assembled if you look at them on paper with their accomplishments and what their world rankings are,” Immelman said. “But hey, when you’re a little kid growing up outside of the U.S. and you dream of playing on the PGA Tour, you dream of playing in major championships at the highest level. This is everything you’ve ever dreamed of is having an opportunity to play against the best on their home soil, and that’s what we’re going to have here in a couple weeks.”

What made it difficult for Immelman was that many of the top international stars were disqualified from competing once they joined LIV Golf. This group includes Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortis, and Louis Oosthuizen.

“It was pretty frustrating at times,” Immelman said, “but we have 12 players that are hungry, and we have 12 players that wanted to be there, so we go from here.”

When @TaylorPendrith got the call #IntlTeam #PresidentsCup pic.twitter.com/e1iNIoIx68

— Presidents Cup International Team (@IntlTeam) September 6, 2022

U.S. captain Davis Love III will announce his six wild-card selections Wednesday morning. The Presidents Cup takes place starting on Sept. 22.