A Brief Overview of The Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup, which was established in 1994, is a biennial golf tournament that pits a team of American golfers against an International team, representing the rest of the world except Europe. This high-stakes match-play event has become a staple in the golfing calendar, offering fans thrilling competition and showcasing the best talent in the sport.
How is the Presidents Cup different from the Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup features a competition between the United States and Europe, while the Presidents Cup is a competition between the U.S. and an “International” team of players from all countries outside of Europe. The Presidents Cup is held every two years, alternating with the Ryder Cup.
Location
The 2024 Presidents Cup will be played at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec, Canada from September 26th to the 29th. It is one of the most prestigious and historic golf courses in North America. Established in 1873, it is the oldest golf club in Canada. The club's name was changed to Royal Montreal Golf Club in 1909 by King George V. Royal Montreal Golf Club has hosted numerous prestigious golf tournaments starting with The Canadian Open in 1904.
The Format
The Presidents Cup is a four-day, match play event with 30 total matches, comprised of a 12-person U.S. Team and 12-person International Team. Unlike the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup begins play on Thursday of tournament week. The team reaches 15.5 points first claims the Cup. However, if the teams are tied at 15 points each, the Presidents Cup is shared.
- Thursday: Five matches total, four-ball (best ball) or foursomes (alternate shot)
- Friday: Five matches total, foursomes or fourball (the opposite of Thursday’s format)
- Saturday: Eight matches total, four-ball and foursomes split the morning and afternoon
- Sunday: Twelve matches total, singles
The United States Team
The U.S. team is captained by Jim Furyk. The six players who qualified for the team include Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay, and Wyndham Clark. Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns, Tony Finau, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, and Max Homa are Furyk’s captain’s picks.
The International Team
Mike Weir is the captain of the International team. Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama, Byeong Hun An, Jason Day, Sungjae Im, and Tom Kim all qualified for the team. Weir selected Min Woo Lee, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Si Woo Kim and a Canadian trio of Taylor Pendrith, Corey Conners, and Mackenzie Hughes as his captain’s picks.
The U.S. has dominated the Presidents Cup with a record of 12-1-1. The International Team’s only win came in 1998 in Australia, while the two teams tied once in 2003 in South Africa.
This year, will the United States maintain their dominance or will the International team close the gap?