The Presidents Cup 2026 is set for September 24-27, 2026, at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, just outside Chicago. The biennial team competition between the United States and the International Team returns to American soil for the first time since 2022, bringing 24 of the world’s best golfers to one of the most storied venues in American golf.
The competition proper begins Thursday, Sept. 24, and concludes with the decisive Sunday singles matches on Sept. 27. Practice rounds and the Opening Ceremony take place earlier in the week, with tournament gates opening Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Quick Answer: Presidents Cup 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | September 22-27, 2026 (competition Sept. 24-27) |
| Location | Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois, USA |
| Course | Course No. 3 (Par 72, 7,564 yards) |
| Format | Team match play: foursomes, four-ball, singles |
| Teams | United States vs. International Team |
| Points Needed | 15.5 of 30 available points |
| TV (U.S.) | NBC, Golf Channel, Peacock |
| TV (UK) | Sky Sports Golf |
| Defending Champion | United States (won 18.5-11.5 in 2024) |
When Is the Presidents Cup 2026?
The 2026 Presidents Cup officially runs from Tuesday, September 22 through Sunday, September 27, 2026. However, the competitive matches do not begin until Thursday, Sept. 24.
The distinction matters for fans planning travel or viewing schedules. The first two days are reserved for team practice sessions, media availability, and the Opening Ceremony. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23, beginning 30 minutes before the first tee time, with the ceremony running from approximately 10:35 a.m. to 11:47 a.m. Central Time.
Competition begins Thursday, Sept. 24, with Round 1 matches. The event concludes Sunday, Sept. 27, with the final singles session and the trophy presentation.
Where Is the Presidents Cup 2026?
The 2026 Presidents Cup is being played at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, approximately 25 miles west of Chicago.
Medinah’s Course No. 3 is one of the most celebrated championship venues in the United States. Originally designed by Tom Bendelow and redesigned by OCM in 2024, the course has hosted three U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, the 2012 Ryder Cup, and the 2019 BMW Championship. The 2026 Presidents Cup marks the first time Medinah has hosted the biennial event, making it the sixth different U.S. venue to do so.
The course measures 7,564 yards and plays to a par of 72. Its recent redesign introduced larger greens, bigger scale bunkers, and wider fairways, creating a course that should produce compelling match-play drama.
Presidents Cup 2026 Schedule
The competition spans four days, with 30 total points available across three match formats.
| Date | Session | Matches | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 24 | Round 1 | 5 | Four-ball |
| Sept. 25 | Round 2 | 5 | Foursomes |
| Sept. 26 | Round 3 (Morning) | 4 | Four-ball |
| Sept. 26 | Round 3 (Afternoon) | 4 | Foursomes |
| Sept. 27 | Round 4 (Final) | 12 | Singles |
The first team to reach 15.5 points wins the Presidents Cup. Each match is worth one point, with half a point awarded to each team for a tied match.
Exact tee times for the 2026 competition have not yet been officially announced. Based on historical precedent from the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, first-round matches are expected to begin around 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Central Time, with matches staggered at 10-15 minute intervals. Final tee times are typically released one to two weeks before the event.
How the Presidents Cup Works
The Presidents Cup is a team match-play competition, which means the scoring works differently from a standard stroke-play tournament like the Masters or U.S. Open.
In match play, golfers compete hole by hole rather than against the entire field. The player or team that wins more holes wins the match. If a player is ahead by more holes than remain, the match ends earlyâfor example, a “3 and 2” victory means the winner was up three holes with two to play.
Foursomes
In foursomes (also called alternate shot), two players from each team form a pairing. They alternate hitting the same ball, with one player teeing off on odd-numbered holes and the other on even-numbered holes. This format demands chemistry and strategic communication between partners.
Four-Ball
In four-ball (also called better ball), each player plays their own ball throughout the hole. The lower score between the two partners counts as the team’s score for that hole. This format allows players to be more aggressive since a partner can cover for a mistake.
Singles
Singles matches feature one player from each team competing head-to-head. All 12 players from each team participate, making Sunday the most dramatic day of the competition.
Presidents Cup 2026 Teams
Both teams consist of 12 playersâsix automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks. The rosters were completed on August 31, 2026, when captains Brandt Snedeker and Geoff Ogilvy announced their selections.
United States Team
Captain: Brandt Snedeker
Captain’s Picks: Jacob Bridgeman, Patrick Cantlay, Chris Gotterup, Jackson Koivun, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas
Cantlay returns for his fourth Presidents Cup with a 10-4-0 record, bringing valuable experience to a team that features three first-timers in Bridgeman, Gotterup, and Koivun. Gotterup won three times on the PGA Tour in 2026, while Koivun, at 21, became one of the youngest players ever selected after winning the 3M Open.
International Team
Captain: Geoff Ogilvy
Captain’s Picks: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Corey Conners, Nico Echavarria, Ryo Hisatsune, Sungjae Im, Nick Taylor
The International Team represents seven countries: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and South Korea. Echavarria, Hisatsune, and Taylor are first-time Presidents Cup participants.
Presidents Cup 2026 Captains
Brandt Snedeker leads the U.S. Team as captain. A former PGA Tour player and Presidents Cup participant, Snedeker was named captain for the 2026 event and has emphasized building a team with a mix of veteran leadership and youthful energy.
Geoff Ogilvy captains the International Team. The Australian, a former U.S. Open champion, has spoken about the challenge of competing against the depth of American golf and the importance of team chemistry in the match-play format.
How Players Qualify for the Presidents Cup
The qualification systems for the two teams differ.
United States Team: Six players qualify automatically through a points system based on official world rankings and PGA Tour performance over a designated qualifying period. The captain then selects six additional players.
International Team: The International Team uses a similar structure, with six automatic qualifiers based on world rankings and six captain’s selections. The International Team’s eligibility extends to players from outside Europe and the United States.
Presidents Cup 2026 TV Schedule and How to Watch
For U.S. viewers, the 2026 Presidents Cup will be broadcast across NBC, Golf Channel, and Peacock. The exact broadcast windows will be confirmed closer to the event, but typically follow this pattern:
- Thursday-Friday:Â Early coverage on Golf Channel, moving to NBC for later matches
- Saturday:Â Morning and afternoon coverage across Golf Channel and NBC
- Sunday:Â Final round singles coverage on NBC
Streaming is available through Peacock for U.S. viewers and via the NBC Sports app.
For UK viewers, Sky Sports Golf is the primary broadcaster, with coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Friday, 12 p.m. Saturday, and 5 p.m. Sunday (local UK times).
Presidents Cup 2026 Tee Times
Official tee times for the 2026 Presidents Cup have not yet been announced. Based on historical patterns, final tee times are typically released one to two weeks before competition begins.
For the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, Round 1 matches began at approximately 11:35 a.m. local time, with the Opening Ceremony starting 30 minutes earlier. A similar schedule is expected at Medinah.
Once announced, official tee times will be available on PresidentsCup.com and PGA Tour digital platforms.
Presidents Cup 2026 Players to Watch
United States Team
Xander Schauffele brings major championship pedigree and Presidents Cup experience to the U.S. roster. Patrick Cantlay owns a 10-4-0 career record in the event and has been one of the most consistent American performers in team competitions. Justin Thomas returns as a veteran presence with extensive match-play experience.
The newcomers are worth watching: Chris Gotterup won three PGA Tour events in 2026, and Jackson Koivun, at just 21, has already proven he can compete with the world’s best after winning the 3M Open and finishing T4 at the Tour Championship.
International Team
Sungjae Im and Corey Conners provide experience and consistency. Nick Taylor, a first-time Presidents Cup participant, has been one of Canada’s most reliable players. Christiaan Bezuidenhout brings a strong short game and international experience.
The International Team faces a significant challenge: the United States has dominated the series historically, holding a 13-1-1 advantage.
Presidents Cup 2026 vs. Ryder Cup
The Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup are often confused, but they are distinct events.
| Feature | Presidents Cup | Ryder Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | U.S. vs. International | U.S. vs. Europe |
| Frequency | Biennial (odd years, now even) | Biennial |
| Eligibility | International = non-European | European players only |
| Format | Same match-play structure | Same match-play structure |
| History | Founded 1994 | Founded 1927 |
The Presidents Cup was created to give international players from outside Europe an opportunity to compete in a team match-play event against the United States.
Presidents Cup History
The Presidents Cup began in 1994 as a way to expand international team competition beyond the U.S.-Europe Ryder Cup format. The United States has dominated the series, compiling a 13-1-1 record, with the International Team’s only victory coming in 1998 at Royal Melbourne.
The 2024 edition at Royal Montreal saw the United States win 18.5-11.5, with Jim Furyk serving as U.S. captain and Mike Weir leading the International Team.
What Makes the 2026 Presidents Cup Important?
Several factors make the 2026 edition notable.
Medinah’s return to the spotlight. Medinah Course No. 3 is one of America’s great championship venues, and its 2024 redesign under OCM has modernized the course while preserving its character. The 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah produced one of the most dramatic team-competition finishes in golf historyâthe “Miracle at Medinah”âand the venue’s match-play pedigree adds intrigue to this Presidents Cup.
A new generation of American players. The U.S. Team features three Presidents Cup debutants in Bridgeman, Gotterup, and Koivun, signaling a transition period for American golf as veterans like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have moved into captaincy and post-playing roles.
International Team’s ongoing quest. The International Team has not won the Presidents Cup since 1998. Despite producing world-class players, the team has struggled to overcome the depth of American golf. The 2026 event represents another opportunity to change that narrative.
What Happens During Each Day?
Tuesday, September 22
Tournament gates open at 9 a.m. Both teams hold practice sessions throughout the day. This is an opportunity for players to familiarize themselves with the course and for fans to watch their favorite golfers in a relaxed setting.
Wednesday, September 23
The Opening Ceremony takes place 30 minutes before the first tee time, running from approximately 10:35 a.m. to 11:47 a.m. Central Time. Both teams are introduced, and the captains deliver remarks.
Thursday, September 24
Round 1 features five four-ball matches. The competition begins in earnest, with pairings announced shortly before play begins.
Friday, September 25
Round 2 features five foursomes (alternate shot) matches. Strategy becomes crucial as captains decide which players pair best in the demanding alternate-shot format.
Saturday, September 26
The longest day of the competition features eight matches across two sessions. Four four-ball matches are played in the morning, followed by four foursomes matches in the afternoon. By the end of Saturday, the scoreboard often reveals which team holds the advantage heading into singles.
Sunday, September 27
All 12 players from each team compete in singles matches. This is the most dramatic day of the Presidents Cup, with every match carrying equal weight. The first team to reach 15.5 points wins the Cup.
Presidents Cup 2026 FAQs
When is the Presidents Cup 2026?
The Presidents Cup 2026 runs September 22-27, with competition matches from September 24-27 at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois.
Where is the Presidents Cup 2026?
The event is at Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3, in Medinah, Illinois, approximately 25 miles west of Chicago.
Who is playing in the Presidents Cup 2026?
The U.S. Team includes captain’s picks Jacob Bridgeman, Patrick Cantlay, Chris Gotterup, Jackson Koivun, Xander Schauffele, and Justin Thomas. The International Team includes Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Corey Conners, Nico Echavarria, Ryo Hisatsune, Sungjae Im, and Nick Taylor, plus automatic qualifiers.
Who are the Presidents Cup 2026 captains?
Brandt Snedeker captains the U.S. Team; Geoff Ogilvy captains the International Team.
How can I watch the Presidents Cup 2026?
In the U.S., coverage airs on NBC, Golf Channel, and Peacock. In the UK, Sky Sports Golf broadcasts the event.
What is the Presidents Cup format?
The event features 30 points across four-ball, foursomes, and singles matches. The first team to 15.5 points wins.
How many players are on each Presidents Cup team?
Each team has 12 playersâsix automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks.
Is the Presidents Cup the same as the Ryder Cup?
No. The Presidents Cup pits the U.S. against an International Team from outside Europe. The Ryder Cup is U.S. vs. Europe.
How many points are needed to win the Presidents Cup?
A team needs 15.5 of 30 available points to win the Presidents Cup.
When are Presidents Cup 2026 tee times announced?
Official tee times are typically released one to two weeks before the event. Check PresidentsCup.com for updates.
Where was the last Presidents Cup?
The 2024 Presidents Cup was at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada, where the United States won 18.5-11.5.
Who has won the most Presidents Cups?
The United States has dominated the series with a 13-1-1 record. The International Team’s only win came in 1998.
Conclusion
The Presidents Cup 2026 brings the best of international team golf to Medinah Country Club from September 24-27. With a revamped course, a mix of veteran stars and exciting newcomers, and the always-compelling U.S. vs. International rivalry, the event promises four days of high-stakes match play.
The United States enters as the heavy favorite, having won 13 of 15 previous Presidents Cups. But the International Team has nothing to lose and everything to prove, making the 2026 edition one to watch.