2026 Presidents Cup: History, format, teams, records and how to watch

Take a look at some answers to frequently asked questions about the Presidents Cup:

Presidents Cup or President’s Cup?

Presidents Cup. No apostrophe.

What’s the difference between the Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup?

In the Ryder Cup, the United States plays against Europe. In the Presidents Cup, the U.S. plays against an “International” team, meaning all countries EXCEPT Europe. The Presidents Cup is held every two years, in non-Ryder Cup years, which 2026 happens to be.

Why don’t they combine the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup?

Well, minus the historical perspective, they’re the properties of different entities. The PGA Tour runs the Presidents Cup, while the Ryder Cup is a PGA of America and R&A production — and each event makes a lot of money for its owners.

Do players get paid to play the Presidents Cup?

Technically, no. Players do not receive money for participation in the Presidents Cup. Instead, the PGA Tour pledges to contribute to charities which are nominated by the players, captains and assistant captains from both teams.

When did the Presidents Cup start?

The first one was played in 1994. This is the 16th edition.

What are the team records in the Presidents Cup?

The U.S. leads the one-sided affair, 13-1-1. The lone International victory came in 1998 in Australia. The two teams tied in 2003 in South Africa.

What players are on the 2026 Presidents Cup teams?

Here are the 12 U.S. team members:

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Meet the 2026 U.S. Presidents Cup team: Rosters, bios, records

Brandt Snedeker’s 12-man U.S. team is set for Medinah next week. Meet the automatic qualifiers and captain’s picks.

And here are the 12 International team members:

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Meet the 2026 International Presidents Cup team: Roster, bios, records

Geoff Ogilvy’s International team will try to snap a long U.S. winning streak at Medinah next week. Meet the 12-player roster.

Who are the 2026 Presidents Cup captains?

Brandt Snedeker for the United States and Geoff Ogilvy for the International team.

Can LIV Golf players compete in the Presidents Cup?

No. The event is run by the PGA Tour and LIV golfers are ineligible to earn spots or be considered for captain’s picks.

Is the format the same as the Ryder Cup?

It’s similar, but not an exact duplicate. The Presidents Cup takes place over four days (Thursday through Sunday), with three days of team matches — alternate shot (foursomes) and better ball (fourballs) — followed by Sunday singles. The Ryder Cup takes place over three days. Also, while the Ryder Cup has a total of 28 points at stake, with the Presidents Cup, it’s 30 (down from the former total of 34).

It will go like this: Day 1, five fourball matches (home team’s choice for beginning); Day 2, five foursomes; Day 3, four fourballs and four foursomes; Day 4, 12 singles.

Perhaps most significantly, if the competition is deadlocked at the end of singles play, it will be deemed a tie and the teams will share the Presidents Cup. If a Ryder Cup ends in a tie, the team that last won the cup gets to retain it.

Where is the 2026 Presidents Cup being played?

At Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3, located 35 minutes west (27 miles) of downtown Chicago.

During its rich 102-year history, Medinah’s Course No. 3 has hosted the 2012 Ryder Cup and the 2019 BMW Championship, as well as PGA Championships and U.S. Opens. While it has never held a Presidents Cup until 2026, the milestone will mark Medinah as the world’s only golf club that can claim it has hosted a U.S. Open, a PGA Championship, a Ryder Cup and a Presidents Cup.

Who won the most recent Presidents Cup?

At Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, the U.S. defeated its International counterpart, 18 1/2 to 11 1/2.

How to watch the 2026 Presidents Cup

In addition to live tournament action on Golf Channel and Golf Channel mobile, there will be a “Live From the Presidents Cup” show at 4 p.m. ET Monday, Sept. 21. There will be “Live From” shows starting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday as well as after each day’s play.

Golf Channel will also cover the opening ceremony from Medinah at noon ET on Thursday. Here’s how the tournament action breaks down on TV and streaming:

Thursday, Sept. 24

12:30-7PM: Golf Channel/Golf Channel mobile

Friday, Sept. 25

2-7PM: Golf Channel/Golf Channel mobile

Saturday, Sept. 26

8-9AM: Golf Channel/Golf Channel mobile/Peacock

Sunday, Sept. 27

Ranking all 24 Presidents Cup competitors at Medinah

The 16th Presidents Cup gets underway Thursday at Medinah Country Club’s No. 3 Course outside of Chicago. Here’s our ranking of who will be the most impactful players of this year’s Presidents Cup, and who won’t.

Read the full article here