Kevin Kisner has admitted that he would be furious with the PGA Tour if he was Brandt Snedeker over the choice of golf course for the 2026 Presidents Cup.
Being captain of the US Presidents Cup team is probably quite a thankless task given that the International side have managed to win on just one occasion since the tournament began in 1994.
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While it feels important for the event that there is a close match this year, Snedeker will know what a win for the International Team would mean for his reputation.
It is unlikely to do his chances of being a Ryder Cup captain in the future many favours.
Why Brandt Snedeker may not be happy with the PGA Tour ahead of the Presidents Cup
Returning to Medinah may concern some American fans, given that it was the site of one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history in 2012.
However, it is also a golf course that International skipper Geoff Ogilvy knows extremely well, having been involved in redesigning the venue.
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And speaking on the Fore Play Podcast, Kevin Kisner suggested that he cannot believe that Medinah has been selected to host.
Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
“Interesting dynamic for me that we’re going to a home location that the International captain was in charge of renovating. That to me sends all kinds of alarms, I’m not sure why, but what exactly are we doing? PGA Tour, whoever picked all this, what are we doing here? We are trying to give the home team the most advantage ever. It feels like we’re somewhat trying to level the playing field,” he said.
“How much insight could the International captain have on playability of the golf course for his team and matchups and all the things that our team will be scrambling to try to get used to the week of, or if they go prior. I’m not sure of the whole schedule lineups. I just find that very interesting. I would be extremely p—-d off if I was Brandt Snedeker and the head of Team USA and you’re like, ‘you’ve got all these courses to pick and you pick the one that you’ve announced that the International captain redesigned?’
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“That’s one of the big points that I’m sure Brandt can’t talk about, but I can because I’m not involved.”
Geoff Ogilvy appointment should not have come as any surprise to Brandt Snedeker
As the Presidents Cup is a PGA Tour event, it would be difficult for Snedeker to express any frustration over the host venue.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, where the two teams are run by the PGA of America and the DP World Tour respectively, the Presidents Cup captains are selected by the PGA Tour.
It is in the PGA Tour’s best interests to make the event as close as possible. It is fair to say that interest from fans is waning, with Chris Gotterup not even born the last time the International Team won.
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Ultimately, Medinah was named as the host venue back in 2020, long before Snedeker was confirmed as the captain.
And given Ogilvy’s connection to the course and the fact that he has been involved with the Presidents Cup for a number of years, it was always likely that he would get the job for 2026.
Had Snedeker had a real problem with the circumstances, he could have easily turned down the role on this occasion and hoped for another opportunity further down the line.
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