Brandt Snedeker has taken a hard look at his own performance as captain of the United States squad in the Presidents Cup, acknowledging that the clock is ticking to prevent a disappointing loss on home turf. Entering the competition, Team USA was widely tipped as the overwhelming favorite to secure an unprecedented 11th straight victory in the biennial event.
Much of the pre‑tournament chatter centered on whether the format needed tweaking to inject more competitiveness, but few gave the International side any realistic chance of toppling the Americans. Geoff Ogilvy’s International team, which last lifted the Cup in 1998 and has been on the losing end of every edition since a 17‑17 deadlock in 2003, suddenly found itself within striking distance, trailing by just five points and threatening a seismic upset at Medinah. A dominant performance in Friday's foursomes gave the visitors a 7‑3 lead heading into Saturday’s double‑session matches.
The International players watched the scoreboard light up with red numbers—indicating American leads—only to rally late in both sessions and keep the contest alive. The afternoon foursomes on Saturday saw the International team claw back enough points to finish the day with a 10.5‑7.5 advantage heading into the final singles session on Sunday. This marks only the fourth occasion in Presidents Cup history that the visiting side has led after the penultimate day, and it is the first time such a scenario has unfolded on U.S. soil.
"It’s tough when the board is all red, but to split the afternoon 2‑2 and go into tomorrow with a lead – which was our goal from day one – I’m very proud of the guys," Ogilvy said after the round. Team USA, however, has now been outscored in foursomes for a second consecutive Presidents Cup and has struggled on the par‑three holes at Medinah, where the International side enjoys a staggering 25‑6 edge. Snedeker’s pairing decisions have come under fire: the Russell Henley–Jacob Bridgeman duo went winless in two foursome sessions, and Wyndham Clark has contributed just a single point from his four matches to date. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler’s stellar foursome record for the United States continued, as did Sam Burns’s strong play, leading to Scheffler being rested for Saturday afternoon.
Snedeker appeared flustered during a live television interview, even mixing up his own lineup choices. "I worked my tail off to put these guys in the best possible situation and I don’t think I’ve done a very good job this week," Snedeker admitted in a press conference. "They look to me to position them where they’re comfortable. I hold myself to a high standard and I don’t think I’ve delivered on that promise.
They’ve given me everything I could ask for; I just need to find better ways to set them up." If the International team can seal an elusive away win on Sunday, it would echo Europe’s dramatic triumph at the same venue 14 years earlier. In 2012, Europe rallied from a 10‑4 deficit to win 14.5‑13.5, a comeback that earned the moniker “Miracle at Medinah.” That European comeback was fueled by lofty pre‑tournament expectations, whereas the International side entered this year with modest hopes, making their current position all the more striking. With 40 percent of the total points still up for grabs on the final day, the narrative can flip in an instant.
Historically, the International team has struggled to capture five points in the singles portion in two of the last three Presidents Cups, but the gap is still surmountable. A three‑point shortfall is far more manageable than the seven‑point hole the United States faced in last year’s Ryder Cup, where they briefly threatened a comeback before Europe ultimately held on for a 15‑13 victory. On that Ryder Cup day, Team USA earned 8.5 points in the singles matches.
To retain the Presidents Cup this year, they need at least 7.5 points on Sunday, and eight points would secure an outright win. Cameron Young, who will lead the U.S. team much as he did a year ago, expressed optimism: "I like where we are better than last year.
The feelings are similar. Team events bring out a different side of us and a different side of golf." Veterans Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler were also deployed early in the matches, while Ogilvy resisted the temptation to load his lineup with star players at the end, opting instead to spread his talent throughout the order. The United States entered the competition with a clear advantage in world rankings, PGA Tour victories, and overall depth, and Snedeker remains hopeful that his squad can continue the dominant run that has produced 13 wins in the previous 15 editions. "A lot can happen on these Sundays," Snedeker emphasized.
"We’ve seen it happen many times over the last couple of years. I think we’ll draw on what happened last year at the Ryder Cup and how close we came to that big comeback.
There’s plenty of evidence that these things are never over. You have to show up ready to go.
I think our guys are champing at the bit to get out there." Historically, Team USA has never failed to be the defending champion in at least one of the major team events—Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Walker Cup, or Presidents Cup. Yet recent setbacks, including a humbling Ryder Cup loss in New York, a Solheim Cup defeat in the Netherlands, and a Walker Cup loss to Great Britain and Ireland, underscore the urgency of a strong finish on Sunday to keep the Presidents Cup within reach.
The final day promises high drama, with both sides aware that a single swing can rewrite the story. Golf fans can catch the live action on Sunday from 4:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the coverage via Sky Sports with no‑contract options.