While the chasm between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf has become a somewhat normal part of golf, there are still little reminders of this unusual situation that we encounter almost every day. One odd experience is watching the buildup to a huge tournament and not seeing former world No. 1 golfer Brooks Koepka. But that is a result of his walking away from the PGA Tour for $100 million.

His wife, Jena Sims, may miss being involved in marquee events, but she is not showing any signs of it. Recently, she wrote a complimentary message on Tony Finau’s wife’s Instagram post, saying, “Love seeing everyone all dolled up!!” The post featured several pictures of the couple attending a Presidents Cup function. Tony Finau was wearing a suit while his wife, Layna Finau, wore a black dress.

The function was attended by all the team members and their plus-ones, looking very proper and chic. The gala was hosted in Montreal at the site of The Ring, a sculpture. The members of the two teams also walked the red carpet and posed with the trophy.

While members of the USA Team wore navy blue suits with pink ties, members of the International team wore black suits without ties. The International team was also equipped with sunglasses branded with the team’s shield symbol.

Brooks Koepka might be missing this prestigious tournament, but the question remains: why is he not playing? Even if he didn’t qualify on points, could he have been ignored as a captain’s pick by Jim Furyk?

Why is Brooks Koepka not playing in the Presidents Cup?

Although Koepka played in the Presidents Cup in 2017 and won, he did not feature in the 2019 and 2022 editions. As mentioned before, he is not playing in this year’s edition either. This is because LIV Golf players are banned from participating in any PGA Tour-sanctioned events, and the Presidents Cup is one such event. It has nothing to do with qualifying points or captain’s picks.

This is different from the Ryder Cup, which is organized by the PGA of America, a separate entity from the PGA Tour. To participate in the Ryder Cup as an American, one must be a member of the PGA of America. With the next Ryder Cup being held in 2025, the PGA of America recently announced that LIV Golfers will be eligible, as they remain members of the PGA of America.