Presidents Cup 2024: Key Information

The top male golfers from the United States and the rest of the world, excluding Europe, are gathering in Chicago’s northwest suburbs for the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club. This marks the 16th iteration of the biennial event. Here’s a comprehensive guide to what you’ll need to know before it starts.

Event Overview

The Presidents Cup is a team match-play event held every other year between the U.S. and the International team. The International team comprises golfers from regions outside the U.S. and Europe. The first Presidents Cup took place in 1994, and it alternates each year with the Ryder Cup between the U.S. and Europe. Delays due to the September 11 attacks in 2001 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in schedule changes.

In the U.S., the event occurs every four years. Past locations have included Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, Harding Park in San Francisco, Muirfield Village in Ohio, Liberty National in New Jersey, and Quail Hollow in Charlotte, N.C. International venues have been in Australia, South Africa, Canada, and South Korea.

Series History

The U.S. has a dominant record in the Presidents Cup with 13 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. They have not lost on home soil, and the only International victory was in 1998 in Australia. In 2003, the teams tied at Fancourt in South Africa following a darkness-interrupted sudden-death playoff between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

Match Format

The format mirrors the Ryder Cup, involving two-man partner matches in “foursomes” (alternate shot) and “fourball” (best ball), concluding with singles matches. The Presidents Cup spans four days, unlike the Ryder Cup’s three days. Each match contributes one point, with a total of 30 matches played: 9 foursomes, 9 fourball, and 12 singles.

A team requires 15½ points to win the cup. If a match ends 15-15, unlike the Ryder Cup, the cup is shared. Matches continue until completion even if the cup has been decided. Scoring is based on holes won, not strokes played. A match is won when a team is ahead by more holes than remain to play. Tied matches after 18 holes result in a half-point each.

Foursomes involve partners alternating tee shots; one tees off on odd-numbered holes, the other on even-numbered holes. In fourball, both partners play their own ball, and the lower score is counted.

Event Schedule

Tuesday: Practice rounds start at 9 a.m.
Wednesday: Practice rounds start at 9 a.m.
Thursday: Gates open at 9 a.m.; opening ceremony at 11 a.m.; Round 1 matches at 11:35 a.m.
Friday: Gates open at 10 a.m.; Round 2 matches at 1:05 p.m.
Saturday: Gates open 6:30 a.m.; Round 3 matches at 7:02 a.m.; Round 4 matches at 1:15 p.m.
Sunday: Gates open at 9 a.m.; Round 5 matches begin at 11:02 a.m.; closing ceremony after the last match.

Team Captains

“This will be a particularly exciting event,” Trump posted. “Both teams are ‘loaded’ with Talent. I look forward to being there, and greeting all of these fantastic athletes, on both teams. See you in Chicago!”

U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker, aged 45, has 14 professional wins, including 10 on the PGA Tour. Known for his putting skills, Snedeker played in two Ryder Cup teams and one Presidents Cup team. His nine top-10 finishes in majors included a best tie for third at the 2008 Masters and the 2012 British Open.

Snedeker graduated from Vanderbilt University and is assisted by Keegan Bradley, Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson, and Gary Woodland.

International captain Geoff Ogilvy, aged 49, has 12 professional victories including the 2006 U.S. Open. He has won eight PGA Tour events, including the WGC Match Play twice. A prominent figure in golf course architecture, Ogilvy has designed courses with OCM Golf, including a renovation of Medinah’s No. 3 course used in this event.

Ogilvy’s assistant captains include Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman, Taylor Pendrith, and Camilo Villegas.

U.S. Team Details

• Scottie Scheffler: 30, Ridgewood, N.J., Texas. World ranking: 1, Titles: 27, Majors: 4
• Cameron Young: 29, Scarborough, N.Y., Wake Forest. World ranking: 3, Titles: 7
• Wyndham Clark: 32, Denver, Oklahoma State, Oregon. World ranking: 5, Titles: 6, Majors: 2
• Sam Burns: 30, Shreveport, La., LSU. World ranking: 9, Titles: 6
• Russell Henley: 37, Macon, Ga., Georgia. World ranking: 6, Titles: 9
• Collin Morikawa: 29, Los Angeles, California. World ranking: 11, Titles: 8, Majors: 2
• Jacob Bridgeman (c): 26, Inman, S.C., Clemson. World ranking: 29
• Patrick Cantlay (c): 34, Long Beach, Calif., UCLA. World ranking: 27, Titles: 9
• Chris Gotterup (c): 27, Easton, Md., Rutgers, Oklahoma. World ranking: 7
• Jackson Koivun (c): 21, San Jose, Calif., Auburn. World ranking: 65
• Xander Schauffele (c): 32, San Diego, Long Beach State, San Diego State. World ranking: 10, Titles: 13, Majors: 2
• Justin Thomas (c): 33, Louisville, Ky., Alabama. World ranking: 22, Titles: 18, Majors: 2

International Team Details

• Si Woo Kim: 31, South Korea. World ranking: 13, Titles: 5
• Ryan Fox: 39, New Zealand. World ranking: 24, Titles: 20, Majors: 1
• Hideki Matsuyama: 34, Japan. World ranking: 26, Titles: 21, Majors: 1
• Min Woo Lee: 28, Australia. World ranking: 30, Titles: 5
• Tom Kim: 24, South Korea. World ranking: 31, Titles: 13
• Adam Scott: 46, Australia. World ranking: 52, Titles: 33, Majors: 1
• Christiaan Bezuidenhout (c): 32, South Africa. World ranking: 97, Titles: 10
• Corey Conners (c): 34, Canada. World ranking: 54, Titles: 2
• Nico Echavarria (c): 32, Colombia. World ranking: 60, Titles: 7
• Ryo Hisatsune (c): 24, Japan. World ranking: 66, Titles: 4
• Sungjae Im (c): 28, South Korea. World ranking: 59, Titles: 7
• Nick Taylor (c): 38, Canada. World ranking: 81, Titles: 6

Presidential Attendance

As the host country’s sitting leader, U.S. President Donald Trump is the honorary chairman, announcing on social media his attendance at the event. While he didn’t specify the exact dates of his visit, his previous attendance occurred on the last day in 2017 at Liberty National, where he presented the cup to the U.S. team. Bill Clinton is the only other sitting U.S. president to have attended the Presidents Cup.

Major Events at Medinah

Medinah Country Club has hosted several notable events:

• 1949 U.S. Open: Cary Middlecoff
• 1975 U.S. Open: Lou Graham
• 1990 U.S. Open: Hale Irwin
• 1999 and 2006 PGA Championships: Tiger Woods
• 2012 Ryder Cup: Europe