What Is the Presidents Cup and How Does It Work? | GolfNow
Your Guide to the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah County Club
Every two years, some of the best golfers in the world come together for a different kind of competition. Instead of playing for individual titles, rankings or prize money, the Presidents Cup puts team pride front and center as the United States takes on a team of top international golfers from outside Europe.
The 2026 Presidents Cup returns September 22–27 at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago, with competition beginning Thursday, September 24. U.S. Team Captain Brandt Snedeker will lead the Americans against Geoff Ogilvy and the International Team on Medinah’s famed Course No. 3.
If you are used to watching traditional stroke-play tournaments, the Presidents Cup can look a little different. Here is everything you need to know before the matches begin.
What Is the Presidents Cup?
The Presidents Cup is a biennial team golf competition featuring 12 players from the United States and 12 players representing the International Team. The International Team can include players from countries around the world, excluding golfers who are eligible to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.
The competition dates back to 1994 and has grown into one of professional golf’s premier international team events. The U.S. Team has historically dominated the series and enters 2026 looking to retain the Cup after winning the 2024 event at Royal Montreal.
Both 2026 teams are made up of six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks. The U.S. automatic qualifiers are determined through FedExCup Points, while the International Team uses the Official World Golf Ranking to determine its six automatic spots.
How Does Presidents Cup Scoring Work?
Unlike most PGA TOUR events, the Presidents Cup uses match play instead of stroke play.
Rather than counting every player’s total strokes for the entire round, each hole is its own competition. The golfer or team with the lowest score on a hole wins that hole. If both sides make the same score, the hole is tied.
Matches continue until one side leads by more holes than are left to play. That is why you may see a match end with a score such as 3 and 2, meaning one side was three holes ahead with only two holes remaining.
Each match is worth one point. If a match is tied after 18 holes, each team receives half a point. The team that accumulates the most points over the four days wins the Presidents Cup.
Four-Ball vs. Foursomes: What’s the Difference?
Two formats make team golf especially interesting: four-ball and foursomes.
In four-ball, two golfers from each team play their own ball throughout the hole. Only the lower score from each pair counts. That gives players more freedom to be aggressive because their partner may still be able to make a strong score if something goes wrong.
Foursomes, often called alternate shot, requires two teammates to share one ball. The players alternate shots until the hole is complete. One player tees off on the odd-numbered holes while the other tees off on the even-numbered holes.
Alternate shot puts an entirely different kind of pressure on players. Every drive, approach and putt can determine what shot a teammate has to play next, making chemistry and strategy just as important as individual skill.
What Happens on Sunday?
The team element changes on the final day.
Sunday features 12 singles matches, with every golfer from the U.S. Team playing head-to-head against a golfer from the International Team. With 12 points available, the leaderboard can shift quickly, making the final session one of the most exciting parts of Presidents Cup week.
For 2026, the final round is scheduled for Sunday, September 27, followed by the closing ceremony after the final putt drops.
Why the Presidents Cup Is Worth Watching
Team golf creates a completely different atmosphere from a typical professional tournament.
Players who usually compete against one another suddenly become partners. Captains have to decide which personalities and playing styles work best together. Momentum can swing from match to match, and every hole has the potential to move the overall scoreboard.
Add the pressure of representing a team and the energy of a match-play crowd, and even a short putt can feel like the biggest shot of the week.
The 2026 event adds another layer with Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3 serving as the stage. The historic Chicago-area course has hosted some of golf’s biggest championships and team competitions, making it a fitting setting for another week of international match-play drama.
Don’t Just Watch Golf. Get Inspired.
After the last putt drops, take that energy and plan your own perfect golf day. Find tee times near you, discover a new golf course and get back out on the course.