Presidents Cup Underway
Heavy Favorite United States Faces International Team in Presidents Cup at Medinah
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Key Points
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The 2024 Presidents Cup showed that an early U.S. lead may not guarantee an easy result: the Americans opened with a 5-0 advantage, but the International team erased it by Friday to tie the competition 5-5 before the U.S. ultimately pulled away over the weekend.
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Scottie Scheffler, despite being world No. 1 and having won the Presidents Cup twice, is one of the few Americans with a losing record in the event and will be seeking to improve that mark at Medinah.
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Si Woo Kim is one of only two International players in the field with a winning Presidents Cup record, making his performance particularly important as the team seeks an upset.
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Xander Schauffele’s 2026 form includes 18 made cuts in 20 starts, a runner-up finish at the Rocket Classic, a third-place finish at the Players Championship and 13 top-25 finishes; he also averages 320 yards off the tee and ranks 12th in strokes gained off the tee and 16th in strokes gained tee-to-green.
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One proposed U.S. pairing is Cameron Young with Chris Gotterup, with analysts arguing that their similar games could promote on-course rhythm and communication; the suggestion also calls for sending them out first to establish an aggressive tone.
The 16th Presidents Cup begins Thursday at Medinah Country Club near Chicago, where the United States faces an International team of non-European players CBS Sports. The U.S. enters as a heavy favorite with a 13-1-1 all-time record and a star-studded roster featuring Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas — including 10 of the world's top 25 players CBS Sports. The International team hopes course knowledge and preparation can finally deliver a breakthrough victory on American soil.
Both teams have held practice sessions and scouting trips at the redesigned, rain-softened Medinah course The Press. Captains Brandt Snedeker and Geoff Ogilvy are emphasizing team bonding, course strategy and aggressive play on high-reward holes. The competition awards 30 points over four days using four-ball, foursomes and singles matches — the first team to reach 15.5 points wins The Press.
U.S. Heavy Favorite Despite Past Close Calls
America's dominance over the International team is undeniable, but the 2024 Presidents Cup proved early leads don't guarantee victory Golf.com. The U.S. jumped out to a 5-0 advantage after day one. By Friday, the International team had erased it completely, tying the competition 5-5 before America pulled away over the weekend Golf.com. That comeback showed the Internationals can fight back if they build momentum.
This year the Americans hold a balanced roster with strong pairings potential CBS Sports. Analysts suggest that complementary playing styles, team chemistry and veteran guidance for rookies like Jackson Koivun and Jacob Bridgeman could give the U.S. an edge CBS Sports. One proposed pairing — Cameron Young with Chris Gotterup — could establish an aggressive tone by sending them out first, as their similar games may promote on-course rhythm and communication.
Scheffler Seeks to Flip Losing Presidents Cup Record
Scottie Scheffler is world No. 1 and has won the Presidents Cup twice, yet he carries a losing record in the event overall Golf.com. Playing at Medinah gives the American star a chance to improve that mark and become a more reliable points contributor Golf.com. His dominance in regular tour events hasn't fully translated to team play, making his performance this week particularly important for U.S. momentum.
Xander Schauffele enters as one of the Americans to watch after compiling a 10-4 Presidents Cup record Golf.com. His 2026 form has been sharp: 18 made cuts in 20 starts, a runner-up finish at the Rocket Classic and a third-place finish at the Players Championship Golf.com. Off the tee, he averages 320 yards and ranks 12th in strokes gained off the tee and 16th in strokes gained tee-to-green.
International Squad Leans on Proven Winners
The International team will rely heavily on experienced standouts like Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott to challenge American depth CBS Sports. Si Woo Kim is one of only two International players in the field with a winning Presidents Cup record, making his performance especially critical for an upset bid CBS Sports. The team's success hinges on these veterans translating their experience into consistent points across all four days.
International captain Geoff Ogilvy has emphasized course strategy and team bonding during preparation The Press. Both teams explored the redesigned Medinah layout during earlier scouting trips, but the International squad's familiarity with American conditions and course design could provide a subtle advantage The Press. If the Internationals can stay close through the first two days, their depth may emerge as a factor in the singles matches on Sunday.
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