The Presidents Cup returns for its 15th edition this week at the Royal Montreal Golf Club, where the United States aims to uphold its dominance against the International team in Canada. With a record of 12 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie, alongside a nine-match win streak, the U.S. team is poised to continue its successful run in the Great White North.
The U.S. squad boasts star players, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and world No. 2 Xander Schauffele. However, competing away can be more challenging, as the U.S. faced stiff competition in past events, notably in Korea and Royal Melbourne in 2019, where they rallied for a comeback victory.
In addition to their top-ranked players, the U.S. lineup features major champions such as Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Keegan Bradley, and Brian Harman, as well as Presidents Cup newcomers Russell Henley and Sahith Theegala.
The International team, led by veteran Adam Scott in his 11th Presidents Cup, is also strong, with seasoned players like Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, and Si Woo Kim, both of whom have winning records in this competition. Young talents like Tom Kim and Min Woo Lee are expected to contribute significantly. Additionally, Canadian team members Taylor Pendrith, Corey Conners, and debutant Mackenzie Hughes are eager to perform well in front of the home crowd.
The Presidents Cup format differs from the Ryder Cup, with only one session scheduled for Thursday and Friday before an action-packed weekend. The competition kicks off with four-ball matches on Thursday and transitions to foursomes on Friday. Saturday features both four-ball and foursomes sessions, while Sunday brings 12 singles matches.
Scoring in the tournament awards one point for each match win, and ties yield half a point for each side. The first team to accumulate 15.5 points over the three days will take home the Presidents Cup. Matches are scored on a hole-by-hole basis, with the lowest score winning each hole.
Automatic qualifiers for the U.S. include Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Collin Morikawa, while the International team features players like Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im. Each team has also made captain’s picks to complete their rosters.
The event unfolds this week, with coverage available on various platforms. Here’s the schedule for the matches:
Thursday, Sept. 26:
– Round 1 (four-ball) at 11:35 a.m.
– Live TV on Golf Channel from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 27:
– Round 2 (foursomes) at 1:05 p.m.
– Live TV on Golf Channel from 1-6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28:
– Round 3 (four-ball) at 7:02 a.m.
– Round 4 (foursomes) at 6:25 a.m.
– Live TV on NBC from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 29:
– Round 5 (singles) at 12:02 p.m.
– Live TV on NBC from 12-6 p.m.