Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Presidents Cup?

The Presidents Cup is a biennial global team competition between the United States and an International team that represents the rest of the world excluding Europe. The competition alternates between venues in the U.S. and overseas. The Presidents Cup is a unique golf event in that there is no purse or prize money. Players are not paid for their participation, but each competitor allocates an equal portion of the funds generated to charities of his choice. Since the event’s inception, more than $54.4 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup, including a charitable donation of $5.3 million from the 2019 event alone. Citi, Cognizant and Rolex are the exclusive Global Partners of the Presidents Cup.

What is the format of the Presidents Cup?

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 that earns the most points after four days of competition wins the Presidents Cup.

What is match play?

Match play is a form of play where a player (or players) plays directly against an opponent (or opponents) in a head-to-head match. You win a hole by completing it in the fewest number of strokes, and you win a match when you are winning by more holes than remain to be played. You (or your opponent) may concede a stroke, a hole, or even the match to each other. If your next stroke has been conceded, you are permitted to putt out, unless this will help your partner (for example, by showing them the line for their putt).

How do foursomes differ from four-ball?

Foursomes (also known as alternate shot) is a form of play involving partners (in either match play or stroke play) where two partners compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole. Four-ball is a form of play (in either match play or stroke play) involving partners where two partners compete together as a side, with each player playing his or her own ball, and a side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.

Has this always been the Presidents Cup format?

Over the years, there have been constant small changes made to the construction of the event. The final day has always been made up of 12 singles matches; however, the event changed from three days to four in 2015. The points total has adjusted over time as well, but the current number of 30 has stayed the same since 2015.

Which team won the 2019 Presidents Cup?

The magic in Melbourne inspired what could be considered as the most exciting Presidents Cup in history at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. In an historic effort, the Captain Ernie Els-led Internationals took the lead on Day 1 by a wide margin. After fighting back through 3 sessions, the Captain Tiger Woods-led United States team edged the Internationals in a Sunday singles comeback. The 16-14 final score marked just the fourth time in event history in which the Presidents Cup was decided by two points or less.

How are players for the International Team selected?

The 2022 Presidents Cup International Team qualification period runs from the 2021 Open Championship through the 2022 BMW Championship. The Team will be comprised of the top eight players from the Presidents Cup International Team Points List, followed by four selections made by Captain Immelman on Monday, August 29, 2022. The International Team Points System will operate similarly to that of the Official World Golf Ranking, except it will use a proprietary calculation to determine field strength and the quantity of points awarded per event. While Major Championship winners will receive 100 points and PLAYERS Championship winners will receive 80, there will be no other alternative minimum event points. International Team Points earned from the 2022 PGA Championship through the 2022 BMW Championship will be given a 25% premium. The ranking will be determined by the average points awarded in the qualifying period. To be eligible from the Presidents Cup International Team Points List, a player must compete in 15 or more events.

How are players for the U.S. Team selected?

The top six (6) U.S. PGA TOUR members who have earned the most FedExCup points from the 2019 A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier through the 2022 BMW Championship, weighted as follows:

Who has served as a Captain of the Presidents Cup?

International Team: David Graham – 1994; Peter Thomson – 1996, 1998, 2000; Gary Player – 2003, 2005, 2007; Greg Norman – 2009, 2011; Nick Price – 2013, 2015, 2017; Ernie Els – 2019; Trevor Immelman – 2022

U.S. Team: Hale Irwin – 1994; Arnold Palmer – 1996; Jack Nicklaus – 1998, 2003, 2005, 2007; Ken Venturi – 2000; Fred Couples – 2009, 2011, 2013; Jay Haas – 2015; Steve Stricker – 2017; Tiger Woods – 2019; Davis Love III – 2022

Which team has won the most Presidents Cups?

Of the 13 matches, the U.S. Team has won 11 and the International Team has won once (1998). There was a tie in 2003 in South Africa.

What is the largest margin of victory in the Presidents Cup?

In 2000, the U.S. Team won by 11 points with a score of 21½-10½ at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. It was the first Presidents Cup played directly after losing to the International Team for the first time in 1998.

What if the Presidents Cup ends in a 15-15 tie?

If the two teams split the points evenly, they will share the Presidents Cup trophy.

How many times have the teams tied in Presidents Cup history?

It has only happened once, in 2003. The matches ended in a tie at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club in George, South Africa. Initially, there was a sudden-death playoff between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els to determine the winner of the Cup. After three holes, the two remained tied with darkness setting in, which is when International Team Captain Gary Player and U.S. Team Captain Jack Nicklaus agreed to a tie.

Who has appeared in the most Presidents Cups?

Phil Mickelson holds the all-time record for appearances in a Presidents Cup, representing the U.S. Team 12 times in his career. In addition, he also owns the record for most points tallied in the Presidents Cup with 32½.

Which U.S. courses have hosted a Presidents Cup?

Quail Hollow Club will be the fifth golf course in the United States to host the Presidents Cup, joining Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, Virginia (1994, 1996, 2000, 2005); TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California (2009, 2025); Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio (2013); and Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey (2017). Medinah Country Club in Chicago will serve as host of the 2026 Presidents Cup and Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis will serve as host of the 2030 Presidents Cup.

Which international courses have hosted a Presidents Cup?

The Presidents Cup made its international debut in 1998 when the event was contested at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, marking the first of three visits to the world-renowned course (2011, 2019). Since then, the event has been played overseas at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club in George, South Africa (2003); Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2007); and Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea (2015). Royal Montreal will serve as host of the 2024 Presidents Cup.