01메디나로 향하는 마지막 관문, 빌트모어에서 달궈진 프레지던츠컵 열기
오는 9월 시카고 메디나 컨트리클럽에서 열리는 2026 프레지던츠컵을 앞두고 전 세계 골프 팬들의 이목이 빌트모어 챔피언십 애슈빌로 쏠리고 있습니다. 이번 대회는 프레지던츠컵에 출전하는 미국 팀과 인터내셔널 팀 선수 7명이 참가해 실전 감각을 조율하는 마지막 전초전 성격을 띠고 있습니다. 특히 오랜 전통의 대항전을 일주일 앞두고 열리는 만큼, 선수들은 긴장감 속에 샷감을 가다듬으며 최종 리허설에 임하고 있습니다.
미국 팀에서는 '천재 골퍼'로 불리는 21세의 신예 잭슨 코이분이 가장 큰 주목을 받고 있습니다. 2013년 조던 스피스 이후 최연소로 프레지던츠컵에 발탁된 코이분은 페덱스컵 플레이오프에서 조기 탈락하며 우려를 사기도 했으나, 브랜트 스네데커 단장의 전폭적인 신뢰 속에 최종 명단에 이름을 올렸습니다. 코이분은 인터뷰를 통해 실전 압박감을 이겨내는 가장 좋은 방법은 경기에 참여하는 것이라며, 매치 플레이 특유의 승부욕을 되살리겠다는 각오를 밝혔습니다.
이에 맞서는 인터내셔널 팀 역시 니코 에카바리아를 필두로 닉 테일러, 히사츠네 료, 코리 코너스, 크리스티안 베주이덴호트 등 핵심 전력들이 대거 출전해 사상 첫 미국 본토 승리를 노립니다. 에카바리아는 인터내셔널 팀을 '다윗'에 비유하며, 객관적인 열세 속에서도 가족 같은 팀워크를 통해 역사를 새로 쓰겠다고 다짐했습니다. 그는 특히 심리 코치와 함께 첫 티샷의 압박감을 긍정적인 에너지로 바꾸기 위한 멘탈 관리에 매진하고 있습니다.
미국 팀의 압도적인 우세가 이어질지, 아니면 인터내셔널 팀이 1994년 대회 창설 이후 처음으로 미국 원정에서 승리의 기쁨을 맛볼지는 이번 주 빌트모어에서의 성과가 중요한 지표가 될 전망입니다. 메디나로 향하는 마지막 여정에서 선수들이 보여줄 컨디션과 정신력 싸움은 프레지던츠컵의 뜨거운 열기를 미리 가늠해볼 수 있는 완벽한 무대를 제공하고 있습니다.
02Original (English) — PGA TOUR
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – As the Presidents Cup looms, preparation ramps up for the battle at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.
The inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville plays host to seven players teeing it up next week for the 16th edition of the Presidents Cup.
For the U.S. Team, the Biltmore Championship is headlined by 21-year-old phenom and 2026 3M Open winner Jackson Koivun plus the No. 1 putter on Tour, Jacob Bridgeman.
Koivun hasn’t participated in a Tour event since the FedEx St. Jude Championship, where he failed to advance to the second round of the FedExCup Playoffs.
“It's hard to replicate the feelings of playing a PGA Tour event. The best way to do that is to just get back into it and enjoy being in the competition and having to hit shots under pressure,” Koivun said Wednesday.
Many felt as though he needed a deep run in the Playoffs to be selected by U.S. Team Captain Brandt Snedeker. Instead, Snedeker selected him outright, making him the youngest player chosen for a Presidents Cup since Jordan Spieth in 2013.
Koivun is no stranger to match play, as he played a vital role in the U.S. Walker Cup victory at Cypress Point Club in 2025 and was part of two NCAA National Championships in 2024 and 2026 during his time at Auburn University.
“Match play is one of my favorite formats. It’s so exciting playing on a team, playing for guys you can call your brothers for the rest of your life,” Koivun said during the “Presidents Cup Selection Show.” “And then you’re just going one-on-one against another person and may the best man win.”
As for the International Team, Nico Echavarria, Nick Taylor, Ryo Hisatsune, Corey Conners and Christiaan Bezuidenhout continue their preparation as they attempt to secure their first victory on American soil since the Presidents Cup debuted in 1994.
“We've talked about in the team, it's a little bit of David against Goliath. We're the underdogs. But we want to make history. The international team has never won in the United States,” Echavarria said earlier Wednesday. “So I think in a way, this group is kind of getting together as a family, is probably going to be our best chance.”
For Echavarria, his 2026 season began with a bang: a playoff victory against Ryan Gerard at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches at PGA National.
From there, becoming a member of the 2026 International Team became a momentous goal for him.
“In the middle of the summer, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself with the Presidents Cup situation. But I liked it. I liked the challenge and feeling. I wanted to get myself on the team and qualify without getting picked. Unfortunately, I didn't, but luckily I got picked.”
Part of the preparation for next week has included visits with his mental coach to help manage the emotions and nerves involved with representing his country in an international event.
“I've been pretty clear with him and talked about how nervous I'm going to be on that first tee or first session or that week overall. But he's told me a lot of, ‘You're fortunate to be feeling those nerves. You're fortunate to be here.’ Use it to your advantage. Use it to sharpen the focus,” Echavarria said in an interview ahead of the Biltmore Championship.
For the U.S. Team, the quest to continue its dominant streak begins, and for the International Team, can they finally break through on American soil?
Asheville represents the final moments of preparation to settle their nerves and build momentum before Medinah.