Your handy desk calendar is correct — the next team golf competition begins this week. A few weeks ago, we had the Walker Cup and more recently the Solheim Cup. Next up is the Presidents Cup, which is yet another worthy Cup event.
Some of you might know exactly what you are in for. But for those who aren’t as familiar with the biennial event, here’s a refresher in the form of commonly asked questions and ideally somewhat helpful answers.
The Presidents Cup is just like the Ryder Cup, right?
Kind of, but not really. There are key differences, the main one being that this is 12 American players versus 12 International players, with the latter squad composed of golfers from around the world, excluding Europe. The Ryder Cup is the U.S. versus Europe, so Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and the boys sit this one out.
Is the format the same?
Also kind of, but there are some key differences. For starters, the Ryder Cup is three days of matches, while the Presidents Cup is four.
Oh, so it starts on Thursday, not Friday?
Yes! Now you are getting it.
What else?
While the Ryder Cup has 28 points up for grabs in foursomes, four-ball and singles matches, the Presidents Cup has 30 points the teams play for (first to 15.5 points wins). The schedule is slightly different too. Instead of double sessions the first two days (like the Ryder Cup), the Presidents Cup has five four-ball matches (best ball) on Thursday and five foursomes matches (alternate shot) on Friday. Saturday is the only double session (four fourballs, four foursomes) before the event finishes with 12 singles matches on Sunday.
So it’s like the Ryder Cup but not exactly the Ryder Cup. Does it do anything way better than the Ryder Cup?
Definitely. Ryder Cup captains pick their respective lineups for each session by listing which players are in each match blindly without knowing the opponent, then wait and see who they play when the other captain unveils their lineup. But at the Presidents Cup it’s way more interesting. Here, captains sit behind the dais and take turns picking their pairing or player for a match. Then the next captain counters with their pick to play against them. And back and forth. Way more fun, right?
An aerial view of the 18th hole and clubhouse at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill., home of the 2026 Presidents Cup.
Quinn Harris/PGA TOUR
That does sound better. So who usually wins this thing?
It’s almost always the Americans. The U.S. holds a 13-1-1 all-time record in the event and has won the last 10 meetings. They tied in 2003, and the International team’s only win came in 1998 when they dominated (20.5–11.5) at Royal Melbourne in Australia. The last few meetings haven’t been particularly close. The U.S. won by seven in the last Presidents Cup two years ago in Canada and has won three of the last four by five points or more.
Are there captains?
Yes, Brandt Snedeker for the U.S., and Geoff Ogilvy for the International team.
Who’s playing for the U.S.?
Scottie Scheffler Cameron Young Wyndham Clark Sam Burns Russell Henley Collin Morikawa Chris Gotterup Justin Thomas Xander Schauffele Patrick Cantlay Jackson Koivun Jacob Bridgeman
Any notable snubs not on the team?
J.J. Spaun, who won the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, was skipped over as a captain’s pick, yet just won the BMW PGA in England on Sunday. So that’s kind of interesting.
It is. Who is on the International team?
Si Woo Kim Hideki Matsuyama Ryan Fox Tom Kim Min Woo Lee Adam Scott Sungjae Im Nico Echavarria Corey Conners Nick Taylor Christiaan Bezuidenhout Ryo Hisatsune
The golf season has been a little sleepy lately. Any of these guys in good form?
Great question. Did you watch the PGA Tour’s Fall Series opener over the weekend? Bridgeman won! It was his second victory of the year.
Nice! What about Scottie?
He hasn’t played since he won $10 million at the Tour Championship last month. But he’s probably fine.
Where are they playing?
Medinah Country Club in the northwest Chicago suburbs.
