JJ Spaun uses Presidents Cup snub as fuel to win BMW PGA, Jacob Bridgeman stays hot in first fall series event

The shortest offseason in professional sports came to a close this past week as the PGA Tour kicked off its FedEx Cup Fall series with the Biltmore Championship after a three-week hiatus.

Three weeks too long, if you ask me.

Across the pond, the DP World Tour produced a loaded leaderboard in one of its flagship events at the BMW PGA Championship, and the two players who ultimately raised hardware at the respective stops have ties to the U.S.

Presidents Cup team, albeit in completely opposite capacities.

The Presidents Cup will get underway from Medinah Country Club in Illinois on Thursday, and while the event that has been completely dominated by the Americans since its inception in 1994 undoubtedly lacks juice compared to the Ryder Cup , this year's go-around should provide a glimpse into what the future may hold.

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With the experience of representing the United States in the 2025 Ryder Cup and finishing 10th on the Presidents Cup points list, many assumed that JJ Spaun would be selected as a captain's pick for the battle at Medinah.

Instead, U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker went in a different direction, using four of his six picks to select players who finished below Spaun in the standings.

Ben Griffin, who finished eighth in points, was also passed over by Snedeker.

CHRIS GOTTERUP CELEBRATES TEAM USA PRESIDENTS CUP SELECTION WITH EPIC PRO-AMERICA VIDEO Spaun won the Valero Texas Open back in April and picked up three more Top 10 finishes on Tour in 2026, but also stumbled towards the end of the season and actually withdrew from the Tour Championship, citing a shoulder injury.

The circumstances, understandably so, led Snedeker to go in a different direction with his captain's picks, but after the 36-year-old's performance at the BMW PGA Championship, Snedeker may be wishing he had selected the former U.S.

Open champion.

Spaun fired a final-round 67 at Wentworth on Sunday to earn a two-shot victory, and bested the likes of Aaron Rai, Rory McIlroy , Adam Scott, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Ryan Fox, who all finished within three shots of the lead.