2026 Presidents Cup Preview: Can the International Team Finally Challenge Team USA?
September 24–27 | Medinah Country Club (Course No. 3) | Medinah, Illinois
The Presidents Cup returns this fall, and while the Ryder Cup often steals the spotlight, don't overlook this year's edition. Medinah Country Club provides a world-class stage, the United States is loaded with talent, and the International Team continues to close the gap.
The Golf Course: Medinah Country Club No. 3
Originally designed by Tom Bendelow and transformed by Rees Jones, Medinah No. 3 has hosted multiple major championships and Ryder Cups. It's a classic championship venue that rewards elite ball striking and punishes poor driving.
What will decide the matches?
- Driving accuracy over raw distance
- Elite iron play
- Excellent scrambling
- Fast, undulating bentgrass greens
- Players comfortable under pressure
Unlike many modern venues, Medinah forces players to hit every club in the bag.
Team USA Preview
Brandt Snedeker captains a U.S. squad expected to feature one of the strongest lineups in Presidents Cup history.
Expected Core
- Scottie Scheffler
- Xander Schauffele
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Collin Morikawa
- Patrick Cantlay
- Russell Henley
- Justin Thomas
And here the fringe competitors looking to boost the US squad:
- Ben Griffin
- Akshay Bhatia
- Maverick McNealy
- Sam Burns
- Keegan Bradley
America's biggest advantage remains its incredible depth. Nearly every player is capable of beating anyone in singles.
International Team 🌍
Captain Geoff Ogilvy continues building a much deeper International squad than we've seen in previous years. Trevor Immelman was recently added as an assistant captain.
Potential stars include:
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Jason Day
- Corey Conners
- Min Woo Lee
- Tom Kim
- Sungjae Im
- Byeong Hun An
- Adam Scott
- Ryan Fox
- Taylor Pendrith
The International Team may not have quite the depth of Team USA, but they possess plenty of firepower and enough match-play specialists to make this interesting.
Early Betting Odds
While odds will continue to move until team selections are finalized, sportsbooks currently have Team USA as a heavy favorite.
Projected Odds
- USA: approximately -300 to -400
- International: approximately +250 to +325
That reflects the historical dominance of the Americans, who have won 13 of the 15 Presidents Cups, with the International Team earning one victory and one tie.
Players to Watch
Scottie Scheffler
The world's best player and likely the emotional leader of Team USA.
Xander Schauffele
One of the best match-play competitors in golf.
Tom Kim
His energy and confidence make him one of the most entertaining players on the International side.
Ryan Fox
Fresh off another strong season, his aggressive style could earn valuable points for the Internationals.
Caddy's Keys to Winning
From a caddie's perspective, Medinah rewards disciplined golf more than heroics.
The team that:
- Keeps the ball in position,
- Avoids short-sided misses,
- Wins the approach-shot battle,
- And holes momentum-changing putts,
will likely lift the Presidents Cup.
While Team USA deserves to be the favorite, match play has a way of creating surprises. If the International Team can survive the opening sessions and keep the crowd from taking over, this could become the most competitive Presidents Cup we've seen in years.