President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Sunday, Sept. 27 singles matches at the 2026 Presidents Cup, marking the first appearance by a sitting U.S. president at the event since his last visit in 2017.
Trump plans to be at Medinah No. 3 outside Chicago after spending Saturday in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the Texas-Tennessee college football game. His visit is expected to bring heightened security measures and larger crowds as the United States and International teams conclude this year’s competition.
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The president’s planned appearance has been a notable talking point throughout Presidents Cup week, with several U.S. players welcoming the opportunity to compete in front of the nation’s commander in chief and praising his longstanding support of golf. Here’s what they had to say, according to Golfweek, which is part of the USA TODAY Network:
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
The Presidents Trophy on display at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill. on Sept. 24, 2026. The biennial match play competition between the U.S. and International teams kicked off Thursday at Medinah Country Club in Chicago with four-ball matches. Captain Brandt Snedeker and the Americans are out to defend home soil and win the Presidents Cup for an 11th straight time, while Captain Geoff Ogilvy’s International squad looks to spring a major upset. And getting off to a good start on Day 1 is critical for both teams.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
The Presidents Trophy on display at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill. on Sept. 24, 2026. The biennial match play competition between the U.S. and International teams kicked off Thursday at Medinah Country Club in Chicago with four-ball matches. Captain Brandt Snedeker and the Americans are out to defend home soil and win the Presidents Cup for an 11th straight time, while Captain Geoff Ogilvy’s International squad looks to spring a major upset. And getting off to a good start on Day 1 is critical for both teams.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Fans cheer at hole one during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Bill Murray holds the Presidents Trophy at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill. on Sept. 24, 2026.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Brandt Snedeker of the U.S. Team at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Ill. on Sept. 24, 2026.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
A view of the flyover at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Sam Burns of the U.S. Team plays his shot from the first tee during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 24, 2026 in Medinah, Ill.
(Luke Hales, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns of the U.S. Team walks the first fairway with Min Woo Lee of Australia and the International Team and Sungjae Im of South Korea and the International Team during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 24, 2026 in Medinah, Ill.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Jackson Koivun of the U.S. Team places his ball on the second tee during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026.
(Luke Hales, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
U.S.A. fans cheer at the first tee during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Justin Thomas of the U.S. Team and Jackson Koivun of the U.S. Team look on from the first tee during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on September 24, 2026 in Medinah, Ill.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Hideki Matsuyama hits out of the bunker at hole three during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Cameron Young of the U.S. Team watches a putt at hole five during the first round of the Presidents Cup.
(Jerod Ringwald, Imagn Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Tom Kim of South Korea, left, and the International Team reacts with assistant captain Camilo Villegas of Colombia and the International Team on the second green during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 24, 2026 in Medinah, Ill.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
Tom Kim of South Korea and the International Team plays a shot from a bunker on the third hole during Thursday’s Four-ball matches on day one of the Presidents Cup 2026 at Medinah Country Club.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
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Presidents Cup opens with pivotal Day 1 matches at Medinah
A fan shows their support for the U.S. Team.
(Cliff Hawkins, Getty Images)
Patrick Cantlay
“I think it would be great to have the President out and hopefully gets the crowd going. I’m expecting the crowd to be loud and behind us this week and that’s what makes playing home team events so fun.”
Wyndham Clark
“Like I said, being an American and having the President of the United States coming to watch you play golf is something that as a kid you don’t ever imagine or fathom happening. I just think it’s pretty amazing. He’s our commander in chief, and it’s going to be definitely really exciting on Sunday.”
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Xander Schauffele
“He made a guest appearance at Bethpage as well. I’m sure Secret Service wasn’t pumped that he made an early announcement on where he’s going to be, (laughter). But they’ll do a nice job to keep him safe. But, yeah, it’s awesome that our president loves golf and supports USA.”
Jackson Koivun
“Obviously he’s a huge supporter of golf, and at the end of the day it’s cool to see the President show up for an event like this.”
Sam Burns
“I think for me personally, anyone who’s the president of this country, I respect that position, obviously. I’ve actually got to spend some time with President Trump and we’ve played golf together a few times. I think you just have a ton of respect for that position, and being an American, I think it’s very important that we do support our president, regardless of your political views. I think if you look at our country now, it seems more divided than ever, and hopefully we can get back to the point where all Americans come together and we’re all trying to kind of reach the same goal.”
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Chris Gotterup
“I think everyone, you know, whoever the president is, if they care enough to come watch us play golf, that’s pretty cool. So I know we’re excited, and we’re going to go try to put on a good performance for everyone.”
How to watch the 2026 Presidents Cup
Golf fans can catch President Trump’s appearance, and all the action from the Presidents Cup, on the Golf Channel and NBC. Here’s the schedule for the remainder of the tournament:
Friday, Sept. 25
Saturday, Sept. 26
Day 3 Foursomes and Fourballs, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
Sunday, Sept. 27
Day 4 Singles, 12-6 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
Watch the Presidents Cup on Fubo
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about President Trump’s planned visit to the Presidents Cup at Medinah
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