The Presidents Cup is a biennial men’s professional golf competition in which a 12-player United States team faces a 12-player International Team made up of eligible golfers from outside the United States and Europe.
Unlike a normal PGA Tour tournament, golfers are not trying to post the lowest four-round stroke total. The Presidents Cup uses match play, with players competing directly against opponents for points over four days of four-ball, foursomes and singles matches.
The 2026 Presidents Cup is being played September 24-27 at Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3 near Chicago. Brandt Snedeker captains the United States, while former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy leads the International Team. [PGA Tour]
What Is The Presidents Cup?
The Presidents Cup is a team match-play golf competition between the United States and an International Team representing eligible players from the rest of the world except Europe.
Each team contains 12 players.
The competition began in 1994 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia and is generally held every two years, alternating between courses in the United States and international venues outside Europe. [Presidents Cup]
The basic matchup is:
| Team | Who Can Represent It? |
|---|---|
| United States | Eligible American golfers |
| International Team | Eligible golfers from countries outside the United States and Europe |
European players are excluded because Europe competes against the United States in the separate Ryder Cup.
When Is The 2026 Presidents Cup?
Competitive play in the 2026 Presidents Cup runs from Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27.
Tuesday, September 22 and Wednesday, September 23 are official practice days. [Presidents Cup]
| Date | 2026 Schedule |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, Sept. 22 | Team practice |
| Wednesday, Sept. 23 | Team practice |
| Thursday, Sept. 24 | Five four-ball matches |
| Friday, Sept. 25 | Five foursomes matches |
| Saturday, Sept. 26 | Four four-ball matches and four foursomes matches |
| Sunday, Sept. 27 | 12 singles matches |
Where Is The 2026 Presidents Cup?
The 2026 Presidents Cup is being held on Course No. 3 at Medinah Country Club near Chicago, Illinois.
Medinah is one of the most famous championship venues in American golf and has previously hosted three U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships and the 2012 Ryder Cup. [Presidents Cup]
The 2012 Ryder Cup is particularly famous because Europe overcame a 10-6 deficit entering Sunday singles to defeat the United States 14½-13½ in what became known as the “Miracle at Medinah.”
How Does The Presidents Cup Format Work?
The Presidents Cup consists of 30 matches played over four days.
There are three types of competition:
- Four-ball — two-player teams in which everyone plays his own ball.
- Foursomes — two-player teams sharing one ball and alternating shots.
- Singles — one player against one opponent.
There are 18 team matches over the first three days and 12 singles matches on Sunday. [Presidents Cup]
| Format | 2026 Matches | Players Per Match |
|---|---|---|
| Four-ball | 9 | 2 vs. 2 |
| Foursomes | 9 | 2 vs. 2 |
| Singles | 12 | 1 vs. 1 |
| Total | 30 | — |
What Is Four-Ball In The Presidents Cup?
Four-ball is a two-against-two format in which all four golfers play their own ball on every hole.
The lower score from each partnership becomes that team’s score for the hole.
For example:
- Player A makes a 4.
- Player B makes a 5.
- Their team’s score is 4.
- Player C makes a 3.
- Player D makes a 6.
- The opposing team’s score is 3.
Players C and D therefore win the hole.
Four-ball is often casually called “best ball” because only the better score from each partnership counts, although four-ball is the official Rules of Golf term. [Presidents Cup]
What Is Foursomes In The Presidents Cup?
Foursomes is alternate-shot golf.
Each two-player partnership uses only one ball.
One golfer hits the tee shot, the teammate hits the next shot, the first player hits the third and they continue alternating until the hole is completed.
If Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa were partners, for example:
- Scheffler could hit the tee shot.
- Morikawa would hit the second shot.
- Scheffler would hit the third.
- They would continue alternating until the ball is holed.
The team completing the hole in fewer strokes wins that hole. [PGA Tour]
What Is The Difference Between Four-Ball And Foursomes?
| Four-Ball | Foursomes |
|---|---|
| Each golfer plays his own ball | Each partnership shares one ball |
| Four balls normally in play | Two balls normally in play |
| Best score from each partnership counts | Partners alternate shots |
| A bad hole from one partner can be rescued by the other | Every shot affects the partner’s next shot |
| Generally encourages aggressive play | Places greater emphasis on teamwork and strategy |
What Are Singles Matches?
Singles are straightforward one-on-one match-play contests.
All 12 players from each team compete on Sunday, creating 12 final matches.
One American is matched against one International player. Whoever wins more holes wins the match and earns one point for his team.
Because 12 points are available on Sunday, enormous swings in the overall score remain possible during the final day.
How Is The Presidents Cup Scored?
Every match is worth one point.
The scoring system is:
- Win a match: 1 point.
- Lose a match: 0 points.
- Tie a match after 18 holes: ½ point for each team.
With 30 matches, there are 30 total points available. [PGA Tour]
How Many Points Are Needed To Win The Presidents Cup?
A team needs 15½ points to win outright.
There are 30 total points available, so 15½ guarantees that the opponent cannot equal or exceed the winning team’s total.
| Team Score | Result |
|---|---|
| 15½ or more | Outright Presidents Cup victory |
| 15 | Possible overall tie |
| 14½ or fewer | Cannot win if opponent has reached 15½ |
What Happens If The Presidents Cup Ends 15-15?
The teams share the Presidents Cup.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, the previous champion does not simply retain the trophy after a tie.
A 15-15 finish is officially considered a tie, with the two teams sharing the Cup. [Presidents Cup]
This rule grew out of the dramatic 2003 Presidents Cup in South Africa.
What Happened In The 2003 Presidents Cup Tie?
The United States and International Team finished the regular matches tied 17-17 in 2003.
At the time, the competition attempted to break the tie with a sudden-death playoff between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.
The playoff reached three holes before darkness made further play impractical. Captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player ultimately agreed that the teams should share the Cup.
The Presidents Cup subsequently adopted the current rule declaring the competition tied if the teams finish level after singles. [Presidents Cup]
How Does Match Play Work?
Match play scores each individual hole rather than simply adding every stroke taken during the round.
If Player A makes a 4 and Player B makes a 5, Player A wins that hole and becomes 1 up.
If both players make 4 on the next hole, that hole is tied and Player A remains 1 up.
The match continues until one player or team leads by more holes than remain.
That is why Presidents Cup results can look like:
- 1 UP — winner finished one hole ahead after 18.
- 2&1 — winner was two holes ahead with only one hole remaining.
- 4&3 — winner was four holes ahead with three remaining.
- 5&4 — winner was five ahead with four remaining.
Once the trailing player mathematically cannot catch up, the match ends immediately. [Presidents Cup]
What Does “Dormie” Mean In Match Play?
Dormie describes a situation in which a golfer or team leads by exactly the number of holes remaining.
If a player is three holes ahead with three holes left, for example, the opponent must win every remaining hole just to tie the match.
Because Presidents Cup matches can finish tied, reaching dormie does not necessarily guarantee the full point, but it ensures the leading side cannot lose the match outright.
Can Golfers Concede Putts In The Presidents Cup?
Yes.
Because the Presidents Cup uses match play, an opponent can concede a putt, a hole or even the entire match.
If a golfer has a short putt that the opponent believes is virtually certain to be made, the opponent can say it is “good.” The player then picks up the ball and the stroke counts as holed.
Once a concession is made, it cannot be withdrawn. [Presidents Cup]
Does Every Player Compete In Every Presidents Cup Session?
No.
During four-ball and foursomes sessions, the captains decide which players compete and which players sit out.
For example, Thursday and Friday contain only five matches each. That means 10 players from each 12-man roster participate while two sit out.
On Saturday there are two sessions of four matches, and captains can use different combinations in each.
Every player must participate in at least one match before Sunday singles. All 12 players then compete on Sunday. [PGA Tour]
What Does A Presidents Cup Captain Do?
The captain has enormous influence even though he does not normally hit a shot.
Captains are responsible for:
- Selecting six captain’s picks.
- Choosing four-ball and foursomes partnerships.
- Deciding which golfers sit out team sessions.
- Choosing the order in which players are submitted for matches.
- Managing personalities and team chemistry.
- Working with assistant captains on strategy and course preparation.
- Setting the Sunday singles lineup.
Lineups are revealed through an alternating selection process in which the captains respond to one another’s choices. [PGA Tour]
Who Are The 2026 Presidents Cup Captains?
Brandt Snedeker captains the United States and Geoff Ogilvy captains the International Team.
| Team | 2026 Captain |
|---|---|
| United States | Brandt Snedeker |
| International | Geoff Ogilvy |
Who Is On The 2026 U.S. Presidents Cup Team?
Six Americans automatically qualified and Snedeker selected the other six.
| Automatic Qualifiers | Captain’s Picks |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | Chris Gotterup |
| Cameron Young | Justin Thomas |
| Wyndham Clark | Xander Schauffele |
| Sam Burns | Patrick Cantlay |
| Russell Henley | Jackson Koivun |
| Collin Morikawa | Jacob Bridgeman |
Who Is On The 2026 International Presidents Cup Team?
Six International players qualified automatically and Ogilvy chose six captain’s picks.
| Automatic Qualifiers | Captain’s Picks |
|---|---|
| Si Woo Kim | Sungjae Im |
| Hideki Matsuyama | Nico Echavarria |
| Ryan Fox | Corey Conners |
| Tom Kim | Nick Taylor |
| Min Woo Lee | Christiaan Bezuidenhout |
| Adam Scott | Ryo Hisatsune |
How Do Players Qualify For The Presidents Cup?
Each team has six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s selections, but the automatic qualification systems are different.
For 2026, the U.S. standings used a weighted FedExCup points system covering January 1, 2025 through August 23, 2026. The six highest eligible U.S. PGA Tour members after the BMW Championship qualified automatically. [Presidents Cup]
The International Team used the Official World Golf Ranking. Its six highest eligible players after the 2026 Tour Championship qualified automatically, with eligibility excluding golfers eligible to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup. [Presidents Cup]
Snedeker and Ogilvy then each selected six additional golfers.
Why Aren’t European Golfers In The Presidents Cup?
The International Team specifically excludes players eligible for the European Ryder Cup team.
That means stars such as Rory McIlroy do not play for the International Team even though they are neither American nor from the United States.
The Presidents Cup instead provides a major team event for elite players from countries such as:
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- South Korea
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- Colombia
- Other eligible non-European countries
Can LIV Golf Players Compete In The Presidents Cup?
Players competing on LIV Golf are not eligible under the current Presidents Cup system.
The Presidents Cup is a PGA Tour-run competition, and current eligibility rules have excluded LIV players from earning spots or receiving captain’s selections.
That is why players associated with LIV have been absent even when their major-championship performances or world reputation might otherwise have made them strong team candidates. [Golf Channel]
What Is The Difference Between The Presidents Cup And Ryder Cup?
The competitions look similar because both use team match play, but they are separate events with different teams, schedules, scoring totals and tie rules.
| Presidents Cup | Ryder Cup |
|---|---|
| United States vs. International Team excluding Europe | United States vs. Europe |
| 12 players per team | 12 players per team |
| Four days | Three days |
| 30 total matches | 28 total matches |
| 15½ points needed to win outright | 14½ points needed to win outright |
| 15-15 tie means the Cup is shared | 14-14 tie means defending champion retains the Cup |
| Begins Thursday | Begins Friday |
| Created in 1994 | First officially played in 1927 |
Is The Presidents Cup Basically The Ryder Cup Without Europe?
That is a useful shorthand, but it is not completely accurate.
Both competitions feature 12-player teams, captains, match play, four-ball, foursomes and Sunday singles.
But the Presidents Cup has its own history, trophy, qualification system and format. It also contains two more matches and lasts four competition days instead of three.
The tie rules are also fundamentally different.
Why Does The Presidents Cup Have 30 Matches While The Ryder Cup Has 28?
The Presidents Cup plays two additional team matches.
The Presidents Cup contains:
- 18 partnership matches.
- 12 singles matches.
- 30 total points.
The Ryder Cup contains:
- 16 partnership matches.
- 12 singles matches.
- 28 total points.
In the Ryder Cup, Friday and Saturday each feature eight team matches, while the Presidents Cup adds five matches on both Thursday and Friday before Saturday’s eight. [Ryder Cup]
What Happens If The Ryder Cup Ends In A Tie?
The defending Ryder Cup champion keeps the trophy following a 14-14 tie.
That differs sharply from the Presidents Cup, where a 15-15 tie results in the teams sharing the Cup. [Ryder Cup]
Therefore a defending Ryder Cup champion needs only 14 points to retain the trophy, while the challenger needs 14½ to take it away.
In the Presidents Cup, neither team receives that advantage from being the defending champion.
Which Is Older: The Ryder Cup Or Presidents Cup?
The Ryder Cup is much older.
The first official Ryder Cup was played in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. [Ryder Cup]
The Presidents Cup did not begin until 1994.
| Competition | First Played |
|---|---|
| Ryder Cup | 1927 |
| Presidents Cup | 1994 |
Why Was The Presidents Cup Created?
The competition created an international team-golf event for elite players who were not eligible for either side of the U.S.-Europe Ryder Cup matchup.
The first Presidents Cup was held in 1994 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, with Hale Irwin captaining the United States and David Graham leading the International Team. The United States won 20-12. [Presidents Cup]
The event has since developed its own International Team identity rather than operating simply as an extension of the Ryder Cup.
How Often Is The Presidents Cup Played?
The Presidents Cup is normally held every two years.
Its schedule has occasionally shifted because of major disruptions including the September 11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. [PGA Tour]
It is played in years opposite the Ryder Cup under the current schedule.
Does The Presidents Cup Alternate Locations?
Yes. Since 1996, the competition has alternated between venues in the United States and international host countries outside Europe.
International editions have been staged in places including Australia, South Africa, South Korea and Canada.
The 2024 Presidents Cup was held at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada, while the 2026 edition returns to the United States at Medinah. [Presidents Cup]
Who Has Won The Most Presidents Cups?
The United States has overwhelmingly dominated the competition.
Through the 2024 event:
| Result | Total |
|---|---|
| United States wins | 13 |
| International Team wins | 1 |
| Ties | 1 |
The International Team’s only victory came at Royal Melbourne in Australia in 1998. The 2003 competition in South Africa ended in the tie. [PGA Tour]
Who Won The 2024 Presidents Cup?
The United States defeated the International Team 18½-11½ at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
The victory was the Americans’ 10th consecutive Presidents Cup win and improved their overall record to 13-1-1. [Presidents Cup]
Keegan Bradley earned the point that mathematically clinched the Cup by defeating Si Woo Kim 1 up.
When Did The International Team Last Win The Presidents Cup?
The International Team’s only victory occurred in 1998.
Peter Thomson captained the Internationals to a 20½-11½ victory over a U.S. team led by Jack Nicklaus at Royal Melbourne. [Presidents Cup]
The International Team enters the 2026 event trying to end a U.S. winning streak that dates back to 2005.
Do Presidents Cup Players Receive Prize Money?
There is no traditional tournament purse or individual prize money.
Instead, each player directs an equal portion of money generated by the competition to charities of his choice.
The Presidents Cup says the event has generated more than $56 million for charitable causes since its creation. [Presidents Cup]
What Is The Presidents Cup Trophy?
The winning team receives a gold-covered trophy created by Tiffany & Co.
The trophy weighs approximately 28 pounds and is constructed from sterling silver with 24-carat gold vermeil.
PGA Tour says approximately 80 hours of labor are required to create the trophy, with the original housed at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst, North Carolina. [PGA Tour]
Why Is It Called The Presidents Cup?
The event has a longstanding tradition of appointing national leaders as honorary chairmen.
Presidents, prime ministers and other heads of government from host countries have served in the ceremonial role throughout the competition’s history.
The inaugural 1994 event had former U.S. President Gerald Ford as honorary chairman, beginning a tradition that has included American presidents as well as leaders from Australia, Canada, South Africa and South Korea. [PGA Tour]
How Are Presidents Cup Pairings Chosen?
The captains choose their players rather than having pairings determined by a random draw.
For each session, one captain announces a pairing and the opposing captain can respond with a pairing for the same match while also naming players for the next one.
The selection order alternates in a snake-style process.
This allows captains to deliberately create matchups, protect certain players or send their strongest partnerships against an opponent’s best pair. [PGA Tour]
Why Are Partnerships So Important?
A player’s individual world ranking does not automatically determine whether he will form an effective partnership.
Captains consider factors including:
- Playing styles.
- Driving distance and accuracy.
- Putting ability.
- Personal relationships.
- Past team-event success.
- Whether players prefer four-ball or foursomes.
- How their games fit the course.
Foursomes can be particularly difficult because a player must repeatedly hit from positions created by his partner rather than his own previous shot.
Why Is Sunday Singles So Important?
Sunday contains 40% of all available Presidents Cup points.
Twelve of the competition’s 30 points are awarded in singles.
That means a team trailing after Saturday still has a mathematical opportunity to stage a major comeback.
Captains cannot hide struggling players on Sunday because every golfer must compete.
Can A Presidents Cup Match End Before The 18th Hole?
Yes. Most match-play contests do not necessarily reach the 18th green.
If a golfer leads by four holes with only three remaining, the opponent cannot possibly tie the match.
The match therefore ends immediately with a result written as 4&3.
This differs from a normal stroke-play tournament, where every player generally completes every hole regardless of his position on the leaderboard.
Is There A Cut At The Presidents Cup?
No.
There is no 36-hole cut like there is at many professional golf tournaments.
All 24 players remain members of their teams for the entire event, even if a captain chooses not to use someone during certain team sessions.
Every player participates in Sunday’s singles matches.
Presidents Cup Format At A Glance
| Category | Presidents Cup Rule |
|---|---|
| Teams | United States vs. International Team excluding Europe |
| Players | 12 per team |
| Competition days | 4 |
| Total matches | 30 |
| Four-ball matches | 9 |
| Foursomes matches | 9 |
| Singles matches | 12 |
| Points for a win | 1 |
| Points for a tie | ½ to each team |
| Points needed to win | 15½ |
| Overall 15-15 tie | Teams share the Cup |
| First played | 1994 |
Presidents Cup Video Explainer
[PGA Tour: Presidents Cup — Everything You Need To Know]
Presidents Cup FAQ
What is the Presidents Cup in golf?
It is a biennial men’s match-play competition featuring a 12-player United States team against a 12-player International Team made up of eligible golfers from outside the United States and Europe.
Is the Presidents Cup the same as the Ryder Cup?
No. The formats are similar, but the Ryder Cup matches the United States against Europe while the Presidents Cup matches the United States against eligible non-European International players.
How many players are on a Presidents Cup team?
Each team has 12 players.
How many matches are in the Presidents Cup?
There are 30 matches: nine four-ball matches, nine foursomes matches and 12 singles matches.
How many points does it take to win the Presidents Cup?
A team needs at least 15½ of the available 30 points for an outright victory.
What happens if the Presidents Cup is tied?
If the final score is 15-15, the United States and International Team share the Presidents Cup.
How many points is each match worth?
One point. If a match is tied after 18 holes, each team receives half a point.
Do Presidents Cup matches go to extra holes?
No. A match tied after 18 holes is halved, giving each team half a point.
What is four-ball?
Two players form a partnership, but each plays his own ball. The lower score from the two teammates becomes the team’s score on each hole.
What is foursomes?
Foursomes is alternate shot. Two partners share one ball and alternate strokes until the hole is completed.
What is singles?
Singles is one-on-one match play. All 12 players compete in singles on Sunday.
Does every golfer play every session?
No. Captains sit players during the partnership sessions, although every golfer must play at least one match before Sunday. All 24 players compete in singles.
Who plays in the Presidents Cup International Team?
The International Team consists of eligible golfers from outside the United States who are not eligible for Europe’s Ryder Cup team.
Why isn’t Rory McIlroy on the International Team?
McIlroy represents Europe in the Ryder Cup and is therefore excluded from Presidents Cup International Team eligibility.
Can LIV golfers play in the Presidents Cup?
Under the current eligibility structure, LIV Golf players are not eligible for the PGA Tour-run Presidents Cup. [Golf Channel]
Who are the 2026 Presidents Cup captains?
Brandt Snedeker is captain of the United States and Geoff Ogilvy is captain of the International Team.
Where is the 2026 Presidents Cup?
Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3 near Chicago, Illinois.
When is the 2026 Presidents Cup?
Competition takes place September 24-27, following practice days on September 22 and 23.
Who won the last Presidents Cup?
The United States defeated the International Team 18½-11½ at Royal Montreal in 2024.
Has the International Team ever won?
Yes, once. The International Team defeated the United States 20½-11½ at Royal Melbourne in 1998.
What is the all-time Presidents Cup record?
Entering the 2026 competition, the United States has 13 victories, the International Team has one and the teams have tied once.
Which is older, the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup is much older. Its first official edition was played in 1927, while the Presidents Cup debuted in 1994.
How is the Presidents Cup different from a normal golf tournament?
Normal professional tournaments primarily use stroke play, adding every shot over several rounds. The Presidents Cup uses match play, so players compete hole by hole against specific opponents and earn points for their teams rather than prize money based on a leaderboard position.
What is the simplest way to understand the Presidents Cup?
Think of it as four days of head-to-head team golf: 12 Americans against 12 leading eligible non-European international golfers. Players compete in pairs for the first three days, everyone goes head-to-head in singles on Sunday, and the first team to 15½ points wins.
