The 16th Presidents Cup unfolded at Medinah Country Club in Illinois, where Team USA hosted the International squad in a four‑day showdown that featured five distinct sessions and a total of 30 points up for grabs. The competition began with a strong showing from the United States, which captured three of the five four‑ball matches on Thursday. The following day, the International Team turned the tables, sweeping all five foursomes matches and narrowing the gap. Saturday’s schedule provided further drama.
In the morning four‑ball session, the Americans edged out a 2.5‑1.5 victory, trimming the International lead. However, the afternoon foursomes saw the visitors share the spoils, leaving the scoreboard at 10.5‑7.5 in favor of the International side heading into the decisive final day. Sunday’s singles matches featured all 24 players, each teeing off in a head‑to‑head format. The first team to reach 15.5 points across the week would claim the Presidents Cup.
As defending champions, Team USA entered the day needing 7.5 points to retain the trophy or eight points to win outright and secure an 11th consecutive triumph in the biennial event. The International contingent, eager for only their second overall victory and first since 1998, required five points to finally break a long drought of defeats on foreign soil. Cameron Young opened the singles for the United States, mirroring his role at the Ryder Cup earlier in the year when he secured an early point for the hosts at Bethpage Black. Young faced Japanese rookie Ryo Hisatsune, a matchup that promised excitement given both players' recent form.
The rest of the line‑up followed, with each pairing listed in British Summer Time (BST): - 17:02 – Cameron Young vs Ryo Hisatsune - 17:14 – Wyndham Clark vs Tom Kim - 17:26 – Justin Thomas vs Corey Conners - 17:38 – Scottie Scheffler vs Nico Echavarria - 17:50 – Sam Burns vs Sungjae Im - 18:02 – Chris Gotterup vs Christiaan Bezuidenhout - 18:19 – Collin Morikawa vs Hideki Matsuyama - 18:31 – Patrick Cantlay vs Adam Scott - 18:43 – Jackson Koivun vs Si Woo Kim - 18:55 – Jacob Bridgeman vs Min Woo Lee - 19:07 – Russell Henley vs Nick Taylor - 19:19 – Xander Schauffele vs Ryan Fox Team USA was captained by Brandt Snedeker, who sought to extend the nation’s dominance after a convincing 2024 victory. Geoff Ogilvy led the International side, deliberately holding back some of his strongest players for later in the day, a strategy that underscored the pressure on his squad to secure five points for a historic away win. The rosters were a blend of automatic qualifiers and captain’s picks.
For the United States, automatic qualifiers included Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley, and Collin Morikawa. Snedeker’s captain’s picks added Jacob Bridgeman, Patrick Cantlay, Chris Gotterup, Jackson Koivun, Xander Schauffele, and Justin Thomas, while vice‑captains Gary Woodland, Jim Furyk, Keegan Bradley, and Webb Simpson provided additional leadership.
The International team’s automatic qualifiers were Si Woo Kim (Korea), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Min Woo Lee (Australia), Tom Kim (Korea), and Adam Scott (Australia). Captain’s picks featured Sungjae Im (Korea), Nico Echavarria (Colombia), Corey Conners (Canada), Nick Taylor (Canada), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa), and Ryo Hisatsune (Japan). Their vice‑captains – Trevor Immelman, Tim Clark, Taylor Pendrith, and Camilo Villegas – rounded out the coaching staff.
Broadcast coverage was extensive. Sky Sports provided live feeds from every session, with the Saturday four‑ball action beginning at 1 p.m.
on Sky Sports+ and at 4:30 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf.
The afternoon foursomes aired from 7 p.m., and the Sunday singles commenced at 5 p.m., continuing well beyond the moment a winner was crowned. In addition to the Presidents Cup, Sky Sports also aired the DP World Tour’s Open de France and the LPGA’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, offering a full slate of golf for fans.
The stakes were clear: a victory for the United States would cement their unrivaled record of 13 wins in the past 15 editions, while an International triumph would mark only the second overall win and the first on foreign soil since 1998. The singles format, with each player fighting for a single point, meant that every putt, every chip, and every drive could swing the momentum. Beyond the on‑course action, the event highlighted the global nature of modern golf.
Players from the United States, Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, Colombia, and South Africa converged at Medinah, illustrating the sport’s expanding reach. The matchups pitted seasoned veterans like Scottie Scheffler and Hideki Matsuyama against rising stars such as Ryo Hisatsune and Sungjae Im, creating a compelling narrative of experience versus youth. As the day progressed, early results set the tone.
Young’s opening match against Hisatsune proved pivotal; a win would give the United States an immediate boost, while a loss could hand the International Team early momentum. Subsequent pairings delivered a mix of tight contests and decisive victories, with several matches extending to the final holes. The atmosphere on the 18th green was electric, as fans from both sides cheered each putt, aware that the overall outcome hinged on the cumulative performance of all 24 competitors. In the end, the final tally reflected the intense competition.
Team USA managed to secure the necessary points to retain the Presidents Cup, achieving a narrow but decisive victory that underscored their continued supremacy. The International Team, despite a valiant effort and several standout performances, fell short of the five points required for an away win. The result added another chapter to the storied history of the Presidents Cup, reinforcing the United States’ legacy while reminding the world that the International side remains a formidable challenger. For fans wishing to experience the action live, Sky Sports offered streaming options without a contract, ensuring that viewers could follow every swing, putt, and celebration from the comfort of their homes.
Additionally, golf enthusiasts were invited to book rounds at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, extending the excitement of the tournament to the broader golfing community. The 2024 Presidents Cup at Medinah thus concluded with a blend of high‑stakes drama, international camaraderie, and a reaffirmation of the United States’ dominance in this prestigious biennial contest.