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Presidents Cup 2026: Complete Tournament Preview

The 2026 Presidents Cup brings the United States and International Team together at Medinah Country Club in the Chicago area for four days of match-play competition. With 24 players, two experienced captains and 30 matches on the schedule, the event provides a different test from individual stroke-play tournaments, with partnership decisions and match-ups playing a central role.

The competition is taking place at Medinah’s Course No. 3 from 24 to 27 September, with Team USA captained by Brandt Snedeker and the International Team led by Geoff Ogilvy. The teams were finalised on 1 September, giving both captains a 12-player roster made up of six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks.

This event tests nerves, tactics and team chemistry as much as shot-making. With Medinah providing the setting and both teams containing established stars alongside Presidents Cup newcomers, there are plenty of storylines to follow throughout the four competition days.

What Is The Presidents Cup?

The Presidents Cup is a biennial team match-play event first held in 1994. It pits a United States team against an International Team made up of players from countries outside Europe. The competition features four-ball, foursomes and singles matches.

Each team consists of 12 players and is led by a non-playing captain. Six players on each side qualify automatically, while the captain selects the remaining six. For 2026, the U.S. automatic qualifiers were determined using a weighted FedExCup points system, while the six automatic International players were selected using the Official World Golf Ranking, subject to the event’s eligibility requirements.

Every match is worth one point. A win earns one point, while a halved match gives each team half a point. There are 30 matches in total, meaning 15.5 points are required to win the Cup outright. If the teams finish level at 15-15, the Presidents Cup is shared.

The event’s history includes dramatic finishes and memorable partnerships. Because players compete as teams rather than solely as individuals, captains must consider how players complement one another and which combinations best suit four-ball, foursomes and singles.

When Is The Presidents Cup 2026?

The 2026 Presidents Cup event week runs from Tuesday, 22 September, through Sunday, 27 September at Medinah Country Club. Team practice takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, while competitive matches begin on Thursday, 24 September, and conclude with singles on Sunday, 27 September.

The opening four-ball session on Thursday was confirmed by captain Brandt Snedeker, with the first matches scheduled from 11:35 a.m. local time. Friday’s matches begin from 1:05 p.m., while Saturday features morning and afternoon sessions. Sunday’s singles begin at 11:02 a.m. local time.

For UK viewers, the Chicago location means the action generally falls during the afternoon and evening in the UK, although exact viewing times vary by session.

How Many Days Is The Presidents Cup? Where Is The 2026 Presidents Cup?

The wider 2026 Presidents Cup event runs for six days, from Tuesday, 22 September, through Sunday, 27 September. Competitive play is concentrated into four days, beginning Thursday and ending Sunday.

The 2026 Presidents Cup is being played at Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3 in Medinah, Illinois, approximately 25 miles west of Chicago. Medinah is hosting the Presidents Cup for the first time and becomes the sixth different U.S. venue to stage the competition.

Course No. 3 has a long history of hosting major professional events, including the 2012 and 2026 BMW Championship, the 2012 Ryder Cup and multiple PGA Championships and U.S. Opens. Its established tournament pedigree provides a significant backdrop for the four-day match-play contest.

How Often Is The Presidents Cup?

The Presidents Cup takes place every two years. It alternates between venues in the United States and countries outside Europe, while the Ryder Cup provides the other major biennial team competition in men’s golf.

The 2026 edition is the 16th staging of the Presidents Cup. The event began in 1994 and has been held biennially since then, apart from the adjustment to the sporting calendar caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which moved the 2022 edition from its originally planned 2021 date.

Who Won The Last Presidents Cup?

The previous Presidents Cup, held at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada in 2024, was won by the United States by 18.5 points to 11.5. The victory was America’s 10th consecutive Presidents Cup win.

The 2024 contest was decided before all 12 singles matches were completed. Keegan Bradley secured the clinching point for the U.S. Team when Si Woo Kim missed a putt on the 18th hole, while Sam Burns finished the week unbeaten.

The 2026 competition therefore sees Team USA arrive as the defending champion, while the International Team is attempting to win the Presidents Cup for only the second time.

How Many Points Are Needed To Win The Presidents Cup?

A team needs 15.5 points out of the 30 available to win the Presidents Cup outright. Each match is worth one point, with a halved match awarding 0.5 points to each team. If the final score is 15-15, the teams share the Presidents Cup.

That makes 30 matches in total. Saturday is the busiest day for team competition, with eight matches split between two sessions, while Sunday is reserved for the 12 singles contests.

The format means a team can build a lead during the partnership sessions but still has 12 points available on Sunday. Captains therefore need to manage player workloads and pairing combinations across the first three days while preparing their players for the final singles session.

What Do The Winners of the Presidents Cup Get?

Victory in the Presidents Cup brings the trophy and the distinction of winning one of golf’s major international team competitions. Unlike many professional golf tournaments, however, the Presidents Cup has no purse or prize money for players.

Instead, each player allocates an equal portion of the funds generated by the event to charities of their choice. According to the official Presidents Cup website, the event has generated more than $56.4 million since its inception and has supported more than 475 charities across 18 countries.

For the players, the sporting reward is therefore centred on representing their country or region, winning as a team and adding a Presidents Cup victory to their individual careers. The event also provides players with the opportunity to form partnerships and compete in a format that differs substantially from normal individual PGA TOUR events.

The charitable element gives the competition an impact beyond the final score, with players able to direct event-generated funds towards causes that matter to them.

How Is The Presidents Cup Team Picked?

The 2026 selection system consists of six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks for each team.

For the United States, the six automatic qualifiers were the eligible PGA TOUR members who accumulated the most points under a weighted FedExCup system covering the specified qualifying period. Major championships and THE PLAYERS Championship received greater weighting during the 2026 portion of the qualification period.

For the International Team, the six automatic qualifiers were selected from eligible players outside Europe according to the Official World Golf Ranking following the 2026 TOUR Championship. Eligibility requirements included a minimum number of OWGR-rated events during the specified period.

The captains then selected six additional players each. Brandt Snedeker made the U.S. selections, while Geoff Ogilvy made the International selections. Both teams were finalised on 1 September.

Who Is Playing In The 2026 Presidents Cup?

The 2026 teams have now been finalised.

The U.S. Team, captained by Brandt Snedeker, consists of:

Automatic qualifiers:

  • Scottie Scheffler
  • Cameron Young
  • Wyndham Clark
  • Russell Henley
  • Sam Burns
  • Collin Morikawa

Captain’s picks:

  • Chris Gotterup
  • Xander Schauffele
  • Justin Thomas
  • Patrick Cantlay
  • Jackson Koivun
  • Jacob Bridgeman

The International Team, captained by Geoff Ogilvy, consists of:

Automatic qualifiers:

  • Si Woo Kim
  • Hideki Matsuyama
  • Ryan Fox
  • Tom Kim
  • Min Woo Lee
  • Adam Scott

Captain’s picks:

  • Sung-jae Im
  • Nico Echavarria
  • Corey Conners
  • Nick Taylor
  • Christiaan Bezuidenhout
  • Ryo Hisatsune

The official rosters contain a mixture of established Presidents Cup players and newcomers. Jackson Koivun, Jacob Bridgeman and Chris Gotterup are among the U.S. players making their Presidents Cup debuts in 2026.

The final team selections also give the captains considerable scope to construct different combinations for four-ball and foursomes before the singles matches on Sunday.

Who Are Favourites To Win The Presidents Cup?

The market assessment reflects several measurable factors, including the United States’ historical record in the Presidents Cup, the strength of its 2026 roster and the number of highly ranked players on the team. The U.S. has won 13 of the 15 completed editions and has won the last 10 in succession.

The International Team nevertheless contains considerable Presidents Cup and major-championship experience, including Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Si Woo Kim and Ryan Fox. Match play can also produce results that differ from expectations based solely on world rankings or individual tournament form.

The 2026 Presidents Cup is being contested at Medinah Country Club from 24 to 27 September, with four-ball, foursomes and singles matches determining which team finishes with the most points. With both 12-player rosters now confirmed, the focus is on the pairings, match results and tactical decisions that will shape the competition.

Bet on the Presidents Cup at Bet442

Bet442 provides several Presidents Cup betting markets, including the overall tournament winner, correct score, individual matches and player-related markets.

Betting odds can change as the tournament progresses, so check the latest available prices before placing any wager.

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