\u201cI played with a huge chip on my shoulder. I definitely had something to prove this week, but everything happens for a reason,\u201d Spaun said. \u201cThe extra motivation, I think that is the willpower that you have. Being left off the Presidents Cup team a couple weeks ago was very disappointing and I wanted to prove that I deserve to be on that team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Snedeker could have defended his decision to skip Spaun, who was ranked 16th in the world and was 10th on the U.S. points list, but said Sunday\u2019s victory was an example of how top players are motivated.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, I\u2019m super excited for J.J. What he did at Wentworth was impressive coming down the stretch,\u201d Snedeker said. \u201cThat being said, he\u2019s a competitor. Like I knew this was going to happen. I told all the guys that didn\u2019t make the team, like your job is to go make me look like an idiot as quick as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spaun said his conversation with Snedeker regarding his captain\u2019s picks was \u201clike a 45-second phone call\u201d and that the captain told him he was the \u201codd man out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Snedeker, however, said he was comfortable with his six picks \u2013 including Patrick Cantlay, Chris Gotterup, Jackson Koivun, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas and Jacob Bridgeman, who also won on Sunday at the PGA Tour\u2019s Biltmore Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe best advice I got from all the captains I talked to and even coaches, you\u2019ve got to trust your gut. My gut was telling me one thing,\u201d Snedeker said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to make those decisions. It\u2019s tough. I feel awful for J.J., and I always will, because he\u2019s a great dude and I love the guy to death.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Presidents](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790121611_658_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n