If the International squad hopes to halt Team USA's long‑standing grip on the Presidents Cup this weekend, they may need to conjure their own version of the famed "Miracle at Medinah" that turned the tide fourteen years ago. Back then, a beleaguered Team Europe staged a dramatic final‑day comeback on the same Illinois course to snatch the Ryder Cup from the hosts.
Now, Geoff Ogilvy believes his International contingent enters the contest as clear underdogs, yet with a realistic chance of preventing an eleventh straight American victory. Since 2005 the United States have captured every Presidents Cup, suffering only a single defeat in the event's entire history. That dominance is underscored by the fact that seven of the 24 competitors this year were not even born when the first modern Presidents Cup took place.
All the statistical odds point toward a continued American winning streak in Illinois. For Team USA, anything short of a win will be deemed unacceptable, especially after a humbling home‑soil loss in the Ryder Cup a year earlier, where a solitary singles rally averted an even larger disaster. Brandt Snedeker, one of the American veterans, openly acknowledged the pressure: "It's the elephant in the room you have to address. Just because the recent Presidents Cup teams have been successful doesn't guarantee we will be.
We have to reset the bar for our team, tell them we have a standard to play to and we're 0‑0. These 12 guys have accomplished nothing and we're going to hammer that into them." On paper, the United States field appears stronger, boasting higher world rankings and a deeper roster of PGA Tour winners. By contrast, the International lineup features four rookies and only three players currently inside the top‑30 worldwide, making it an eclectic mix of experience and youthful promise. Ogilvy, however, is ready to embrace the challenge, reminding fans that the Ryder Cup has repeatedly shown how underdog teams can overturn expectations.
Europe, often the underdog on paper, has won nine of the last twelve Ryder Cups, proving that talent gaps can be bridged by cohesion and resolve. As former commentator Brandel Chamblee observed on the Golf Channel, "These team events are so compelling because Europe has shown that a cohesive unit can overcome a huge talent gap.
Almost every time the Ryder Cup is played, Europe is the underdog and just thrashes the United States. Many will think a massive U.S. victory is a foregone conclusion, but sport loves an underdog." The 2019 Presidents Cup required a dramatic final‑day rally from the United States, and the 2024 edition saw them recover after being swept in a foursomes session. Yet Ogilvy—who helped redesign Medinah’s course—senses the gap between the squads is narrowing.
"Clearly winning something for the first time in a very long time is probably more difficult than if you're winning all the time," he admitted. "But we're getting closer all the time." The International roster spans seven nationalities, uniting players from outside both the United States and Europe under a distinctive black‑and‑gold shield introduced by Ernie Els in 2019. Among them, Nico Echavarria (Cognizant Classic winner) and Tom Kim (Genesis Scottish Open champion) have already secured PGA Tour victories this season. Meanwhile, Adam Scott and Ryan Fox arrived in Chicago after strong showings on the DP World Tour, including a notable performance at the BMW PGA Championship.
Fox, the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year, praised the European model: "I think we can learn a lot from Europe, just not being intimidated by Team USA. I feel like we know a lot of the European players really well and if these guys can do it, we can do it, too. We can definitely emulate them and take a little bit out of how they get together as a team.
The European Team has done a really good job of that over probably the last decade, maybe even longer, just having one collective goal. I feel like we're getting pretty close to that as an International Team—certainly feels like that this year. I think that's the way we win: have that collective goal, all buy into it, and it will be an exciting week for us." Europe currently holds both the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup, having triumphed in New York and the Netherlands respectively. Masters champion Rory McIlroy also hopes to see the Presidents Cup slip from American hands this week.
"All we need now is the Internationals to do it (win) — that would be great," McIlroy said at Wentworth, expressing his desire for a broader shift in golf's power balance. While McIlroy's wish may seem a long shot, it is far from impossible.
The upcoming four days promise intense competition, passionate crowds, and the ever‑present possibility of an underdog story. Whether the International team can finally break the U.S. streak remains to be seen, but the stage is set for a thrilling showdown. Fans can catch every moment of the United States versus International clash live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning Thursday and continuing through the weekend.
Those without a contract can still stream the action, ensuring that golf enthusiasts worldwide can witness what could become another historic chapter in Presidents Cup lore.