Meet the top 8 for U.S. Presidents Cup Team

The top eight qualifiers for the 2019 Presidents Cup U.S. Team are final and captain Tiger Woods will lead a group that are all inside the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking, have a combined 11 PGA TOUR victories this season. The Presidents Cup will return to Melbourne, Australia and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time, Dec. 9-15, 2019.

“This is the core of the team. These guys have earned it. They've proven that they belong on the team,” said U.S. Team Captain Tiger Woods. “You've got some veterans, whether it's Webby, Kuch or Dustin, who have been part of the teams for a very long time, and we have some newcomers. We have a nice mix.

“It's a younger team, and that's what we want to see. We want to see a little turnover and get the younger guys playing on these teams because they're going to be a part of it for a very long time going forward. Really, I can’t wait to get some of these young guys down to Royal Melbourne to experience golf in the Sandbelt Region and get to experience how much the fans love and appreciate sports and golf in that area of the world.”

1. BROOKS KOEPKA

Age: 29

PGA TOUR wins: 7

Presidents Cup: 1 (2017) / 2-2-0 record

2018-19 highlights: Reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year has three wins at the CJ Cup, the PGA Championship and the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. He also has three runner-up finishes including the Masters and the U.S. Open. Ranks 1st in Par 4 scoring average on the PGA TOUR this season.

Notable: Has won four majors and a World Golf Championships event. Has been No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for a total of 23 weeks including the last 14 consecutive weeks.

Captain Woods on Koepka: “It's hard not to say that he's had one of the most incredible major championship runs of all time. What he's done the last couple years has been truly remarkable in major championships. He's beaten all of us, and what he brings to the team is that toughness that we want, that fire. But he's also that calmness, too, that calming factor.”

2. JUSTIN THOMAS

Age: 26

PGA TOUR wins: 9

Presidents Cup: 3 (2017) / 3-1-1 record

2018-19 highlights: No wins this season after battling a wrist injury. Still has five top-10 finishes and a runner-up at the Genesis Open.

Notable: Only player on the team with one major, one WGC and a FedExCup. Ranks 1st in birdie average of the PGA TOUR this season.

Captain Woods on Thomas: “What I saw as a vice captain at Liberty National, the fire, his first Cup, his first team event, and he was so just enthusiastic, and what a great team guy. Incredible in the locker room. Everybody loves him, and he's got that little fiery personality that you want.”

3. DUSTIN JOHNSON

Age: 35

PGA TOUR wins: 20

Presidents Cup: 3 (2011, 2015, 2017)/ 8-4-2 record

2018-19 highlights: Won the WGC-Mexico Championship as part of seven top-10 finishes

Notable: Played in Melbourne in 2011 where he was paired with Tiger Woods for three matches. One major championship win, five career WGC victories. Has at least one victory in each of the last 12 consecutive seasons on the PGA TOUR.

Captain Woods on Johnson: “DJ has been on the team for a long time. I played with him in 2011 down there in Melbourne, and what an incredible player and incredible partner. He brings experience, also a lot of game, and so it'll be fun to have him on the team again and see him out there playing because what he did down in Melbourne last time, he played really solidly. Looking forward to that again.”

4. PATRICK CANTLAY

Age: 27

PGA TOUR wins: 2

Presidents Cup: Making his first appearance

2018-19 highlights: Won the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide this year. Also finished runner-up at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and third at RBC Heritage and the PGA Championship.

Captain Woods on Cantlay: “Patrick has never been a part of the teams before, so this will be new for him. It will be exciting to have him on the team. He's kind of quiet, quiet and kind of reserved, but we've gotten to know him -- I've gotten to know him a little bit from being on the training tables next to him, and what a great kid. When we go down to Melbourne, it's a golf course which you have to putt well, and he's one of the best putters we've got.”

5. XANDER SCHAUFFELE

Age: 25

PGA TOUR wins: 4

Presidents Cup: Making his first appearance

2019 highlights: Victories at the WGC-HSBC Champions and the Sentry Tournament of Champions to go along with a runner-up at the Masters and a T3 at the U.S. Open.

Captain Woods on Schauffele: “Xander is new. He's never been on any of the teams before, so this will be new for him. But Xander, he's just like Mr. Consistent. He just doesn't do anything wrong. He's just solid. We want guys like him on the team.”

6. WEBB SIMPSON

Age: 34

PGA TOUR wins: 5

Presidents Cup: 2 (2011, 2013) / 5-3-2 record

2018-19 highlights: Three runner-up finishes (RBC Canadian Open, WGC-FedEx St. Jude, Wyndham Championship)

Notable: Played in 2011 at Royal Melbourne where he and Bubba Watson were the first team out in each of the first three rounds collecting three points for his team. Finished the event with a 3-2-0 record. Winner of the 2012 U.S. Open and the 2018 PLAYERS Championship

Captain Woods on Simpson: “Webby was down there with us in 2011, as well, and what an enthusiastic personality. It's infectious. You know, I was on teams with him for a number of years, and just great in the team room. I mean, he's one of the guys that you want to have with that energy being part of a team like this.”

7. MATT KUCHAR

Age: 41

PGA TOUR wins: 2

Presidents Cup: 4 (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) / 6-8-2 record
Played in Melbourne in 2011

2018-19 highlights: Has two wins (Mayakoba and Sony Open) and two runner-up finishes this year.

Notable: Has won a PLAYERS Championship and a World Golf Championships. Will reach the season-ending TOUR Championship for the ninth time in his last 10 season on the PGA TOUR.

Captain Woods on Kuchar: "Kuch, I played with him in 2011 down there in Melbourne. Kuch is just Kuch. He's a little bit off at times, and we love that about him because he keeps us loose. There are times when, yeah, the team can get a little tight, but Kuch will have one liners here and there, have stories and make all of us laugh. You want that type of person in the team room."

8. BRYSON DECHAMBEAU

Age: 25

PGA TOUR wins: 5

Presidents Cup: Making his first appearance

2018-19 highlights: Won the Shriners Hospitals for Children in the fall following back-to-back wins in the Playoffs in 2018.

Captain Woods on DeChambeau: “Yeah, Bryson, this will be new for him. You know, I got a chance to play with him on the Ryder Cup team last year, and what an incredible player. I mean, he does things differently. He does it his own way. But he does it really well and really efficiently. We want young guys like this on the team because he's going to be part of these teams for a very long time.”

Four Captain’s selections will be determined the week of Nov. 4th.