With the captain’s pick announced, the Presidents Cup roster is all set. The International team picks surprised a few, as Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor were snubbed. But the roster is headlined by Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, and others. It’s a mix of veterans and youngsters, as evidenced by the selection of Min Woo Lee. Who are the best players on the field? Judging by current performances and past experiences, these are our top picks:

Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama will rank inside the top five even if it were a combined list of American and International players. The Japanese pro has already netted two titles this season, despite sporadic bouts of back injuries. Matsuyama was robbed at the London airport just a few weeks back. Days later, he won the FedEx St. Jude Championship for his 10th PGA Tour victory. This will be his sixth Presidents Cup appearance. His Presidents Cup record is 7-10-5.

Adam Scott

The Aussie has been a staple of the Presidents Cup. This will mark Scott’s 11th appearance in the biennial showdown. Scott is coming off a hot streak—a T2 at the BMW Championship followed by a T4 at the Tour Championship. In his last five starts, the 14-time PGA Tour winner has finished no worse than 18th.

Moreover, the veteran golfer was part of the International team the last time the Presidents Cup came to Montreal. Scott bested Zach Johnson in the singles but lost two foursomes and a fourball, and halved the other. The 44-year-old’s Presidents Cup record is 18-25-6.

Sungjae Im

Sungjae Im has quietly moved up to world No. 20 from 45th after the Masters. The two-time PGA Tour winner has managed eight top tens this season, including one in the Tour Championship. But Im’s strength lies around the greens.

The South Korean is 31st in proximity to the green, 29th in scrambling, and 15th in sand saves. Reports suggest that fairways will be narrower, meaning more precise drivers of the ball will gain an advantage. Im’s driving accuracy is 63.32%, the 47th best on the Tour. His past Presidents Cup record stands at 0-4-0.

Tom Kim 

It’s been a mixed year for the South Korean pro. The 22-year-old was on the verge of netting his fourth PGA Tour victory—a massive accomplishment considering his age—but lost to ‘big bro’, Scottie Scheffler in a playoff. At the Olympics, he was closing in on a podium finish but settled for 8th. 

Again, at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Kim looked set for a BMW Championship berth until he squandered his chances on the final three holes. All the more reason for the South Korean to close the season on a positive note. Kim has seven top-25 finishes this season. It will be his second Presidents Cup appearance. Last time, Kim left with a 2-3-0 record.

Min Woo Lee

Another Aussie on the roster is the rising star Min Woo Lee. The 26-year-old is one of six captain’s picks by Mike Weir. Lee’s campaign has not gone as expected, marked by only two top-tens. However, both were runner-up finishes. Lee’s strength lies in his power off the tee. The youngster is 5th in driving distance, averaging around 315 yards. His strokes gained: driving is the 4th best on the PGA Tour (+0.731). This will be Lee’s Presidents Cup debut.

Taylor Pendrith

Another of Mike Weir’s picks, Pendrith will make his second Presidents Cup appearance. The Canadian International has six top-tens this season, including a victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. In his last five appearances, the 33-year-old hasn’t finished worse than T22. Pendrith is a heavy hitter, ranking as the 8th longest driver of the ball on the PGA Tour this season.

But his real strength is in putting. The Richmond Hill native is 7th in strokes gained: putting (+0.573) and 6th in birdie or better conversion percentage. Pendrith was also the 4th best in that area at East Lake. Pendrith’s lone Presidents Cup appearance came in 2022.

Aside from these six, the field also boasts former world No. 1 Jason Day. Day has had a mixed season so far, but if experience matters, he has plenty: this will be his sixth Presidents Cup. Byeong Hun An, on the other hand, is coming off a steady stretch of golf, finishing inside the top 30 in four of the last five tournaments. So, our eyes will be on the South Korean as well.