PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and MEDINAH, Illinois – The PGA TOUR announced today that former Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Tournament Director and longtime motorsports executive Joie Chitwood has been named Executive Director of the 2026 Presidents Cup, which will be contested at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago.

“I am thrilled to be named Executive Director of the 2026 Presidents Cup and look forward to returning to Chicago to guide what has become a staple of top global events in sports,” said Chitwood. “This city has a tremendous passion for golf as evidenced by the number of championships hosted through the years, and Medinah Country Club has played an incredible role in that history. We are going to engage the vibrant Chicagoland business community and its great sports fans to deliver an unforgettable week at the Presidents Cup.”

Chitwood comes to the Presidents Cup after spending two years as Vice President of Corporate Development for Arnold Palmer Enterprises, which included his role as Tournament Director over one of the PGA TOUR’s premier championships. In that role, he was tasked with driving revenue growth and operational excellence, which delivered record results for the longtime event, founded by Arnold Palmer. In addition, Chitwood also oversaw the Arnold Palmer Cup, a prestigious collegiate team competition featuring the top U.S. and International players, similar to the Presidents Cup.

The bulk of Chitwood’s extensive career in the sports industry has been in motorsports, where he got his start at the Indy Racing League in Indianapolis. After four years, he was selected by the executive leadership of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASCAR for a joint venture to construct and operate the Chicagoland Speedway, a $135 million, 75,000 seat, racetrack facility on 900 acres in nearby Joliet, Illinois. As Vice President and General Manager, Chitwood oversaw marketing, PR, sponsorships, ticketing, hospitality, operations, and legislative affairs for both the Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway, delivering a sold-out inaugural season.

After launching the Chicagoland Speedway, Chitwood returned to Indianapolis as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he oversaw all business functions for the world’s largest sporting venue and increased performance and revenue through reorganization and partnership development.

From 2009-19, Chitwood rose to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of International Speedway Corporation (ISC) in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was tasked with improving the nationwide performance of 13 motor racing facilities – including the world-renowned Daytona International Speedway. In this role, he oversaw the corporation’s day-to-day activities and financial results; a $500 million plan for capital expenditures; and led the largest investment in ISC’s history, Daytona Rising, a $400 million project.

“Joie has a fantastic track record of growing sales and partnerships across some of the biggest arenas in sports, and we are excited to welcome him to the Presidents Cup team,” said Matt Rapp, the TOUR’s Senior Vice President of Championship Management. “His leadership skills and knowledge of the Chicago business community will be a major asset for us leading into 2026, and I know he’s eager to get started on what is projected to be our biggest event ever.”

The 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, shattered all previous sales and attendance records for the biennial event, with a week that saw the U.S. Team defeat the International Team, 17.5 to 12.5. The 2024 Presidents Cup will return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, September 24-29, where event organizers are expecting the strong momentum to continue with the event contested in Canada for the first time since 2007.

“Medinah Country Club is delighted to welcome Joie into our family and provide immense support in his team’s efforts to put forth a successful Presidents Cup, which will add to the storied history of Course #3 and the Chicagoland sports landscape,” said Medinah member and 2026 Presidents Cup Chair, Michael Scimo. “We take a great amount of pride in the prior championships held at Medinah and are confident the 2026 Presidents Cup will deliver a first-class experience for the players, partners and fans.”

Located 25 miles west of downtown Chicago in DuPage County, Medinah Country Club was established in 1924 and boasts the famed Course #3, which was designed by Tom Bendelow, redesigned by Rees Jones, and is currently undergoing an extensive renovation and redesign with OCM Golf, led by former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy. Winners at Medinah include Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Hale Irwin, Billy Casper, Lou Graham, Cary Middlecoff, Gary Player, and Byron Nelson.

The PGA TOUR visited Medinah most recently in 2019, where Thomas won the BMW Championship in the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs for his 10th PGA TOUR victory. The club also played host to the 2012 Ryder Cup, two PGA Championships, three U.S. Opens, the 1988 U.S. Senior Open, and a number of other professional championships.

For more information about the Presidents Cup, please visit PresidentsCup.com.