Presidents Cup Set to Begin at Medinah Country Club

Overview of the Presidents Cup

The Presidents Cup is a biennial team match-play event featuring golf teams from the United States and an International side, excluding Europe. This year’s matches take place at Medinah Country Club, located in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.

Each team consists of 12 players, selected through a combination of automatic qualifications and captain’s picks. The event was first held in 1994 and alternates with the Ryder Cup, which features competition between the U.S. and Europe.

The Presidents Cup is hosted by the United States every four years at different locations, including Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia and Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. International locations have included Australia, South Africa, Canada, and South Korea.

Historical Performance and Format

Historically, the U.S. has been dominant in the Presidents Cup, boasting a 13-1-1 record. The American team has won the last ten editions, with their sole loss occurring in 1998 when the International team claimed victory at Royal Melbourne in Australia. The teams experienced a tie in 2003 at Fancourt in South Africa.

The competition format is similar to the Ryder Cup, including foursomes (alternate shot) and fourball (best ball), culminating in a final day of singles matches. A total of 30 matches are played over four days, with each match worth one point. The team reaching 15½ points wins the cup. In the event of a 15-15 tie, the cup is shared.

Event Schedule

Brandt Snedeker, the host team captain, has chosen the event format order. Day 1 consists of five fourball matches, followed by five foursomes matches on Day 2. Day 3 includes four foursomes and four fourball matches, with Snedeker determining the sequence. On the final day, all players partake in singles matches.

• Tuesday: Practice rounds, gates open at 9 a.m.
• Wednesday: Practice rounds, gates open at 9 a.m.
• Thursday: Opening ceremony at 11 a.m., first round matches at 11:35 a.m.
• Friday: Gates open at 10 a.m.; second round matches start at 1:05 p.m.
• Saturday: Morning matches begin at 7:02 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
• Sunday: Gates open at 9 a.m., final round matches at 11:02 a.m., closing ceremony follows.

Team and Captains

U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker, winner of 14 professional tournaments, leads the American team. Assisting him are Keegan Bradley, Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson, and Gary Woodland.

Leading the International team is Geoff Ogilvy from Australia, winner of the 2006 U.S. Open. His assistant captains are Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman, Taylor Pendrith, and Camilo Villegas.

Team Rosters

United States Team

The U.S. team features top players such as Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Young, alongside captain’s picks including Jacob Bridgeman and Patrick Cantlay. Each player brings a rich history of competitive golf.

International Team

The International team consists of automatically qualified players like Si Woo Kim, Ryan Fox, and Hideki Matsuyama. Captain’s picks include Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Corey Conners.

Presidential Attendance

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his attendance at the event as the honorary chairman of the Presidents Cup. He emphasized the exceptional talent on both teams in his message.

Previous Events at Medinah

Medinah Country Club has hosted several major tournaments, including the 1949, 1975, and 1990 U.S. Opens, as well as the PGA Championships in 1999 and 2006. The club was also the venue for the 2012 Ryder Cup.