Team USA continued its unbroken run in the Presidents Cup, defeating the International side once again and reigniting the conversation about whether the biennial event needs a structural overhaul. Brandt Snedeker’s squad delivered the most dramatic final‑day rally in the tournament’s history at Medinah, snatching 9.5 of the 12 singles points available on Sunday and sealing a record‑extending 11th straight victory. While the final score of 17‑13 suggests a comfortable win, the match was far tighter than the numbers imply.
The International team swept the Friday foursomes, and for only the fourth time ever they entered the final day in the lead, hinting that the gap between the continents may be narrowing. Despite the promise shown, the International side ultimately fell short, extending the drought that began after their 1998 triumph. Geoff Ogilvy’s contingent matched the Americans through the first three days but was outplayed on Sunday, leaving Team USA with 14 wins out of the 16 Presidents Cups contested to date. "It was sort of on a knife's edge all day," Ogilvy reflected.
"If a few of those one‑down holes had turned into one‑up, the momentum could have swung dramatically." The Presidents Cup spans four days and features 30 matches—one more day and two more matches than the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup. Because the talent disparity between the United States and the rest of the world is generally larger than the Europe‑versus‑America split in those other events, some analysts wonder whether a shorter format would produce a tighter contest. Reducing the schedule to two days of foursomes and four‑ball, for instance, would cut the total points and give captains more flexibility to sit weaker players, easing the pressure on marquee names.
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee has been vocal about this idea: "They need to start the Presidents Cup on Friday and trim the points to 24. If the Ryder Cup is fought over 28 points, why should the Presidents Cup be stretched to 30 when the talent gap is wider?" He notes that the first three Presidents Cups, which began on a Friday, saw the United States and International teams dead‑even after those initial sessions. "The longer the event runs, the more the best players dominate, and that was evident in the latest edition," Chamblee added.
A further complication stems from the PGA Tour’s ownership of the Presidents Cup, which automatically excludes LIV Golf players. This rule has hit the International roster harder than the American one, because many of the world’s top non‑American golfers have migrated to LIV.
In the early years, the International side could call upon former world No. 1s such as Greg Norman, Nick Price, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh.
Today, players like Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith are barred, while other strong competitors such as Lucas Herbert and Louis Oosthuizen are also unavailable. Chamblee argues that the International team should be allowed to select any player it wishes, regardless of tour affiliation. "Give the Internationals autonomy to choose who they want," he says.
"You’re telling me they wouldn’t pick some LIV players if they could?" By contrast, the Ryder Cup benefits from a more flexible arrangement: the DP World Tour can field Jon Rahm, and the U.S. side can include Bryson DeChambeau, even though they play on different tours. Some have even floated the concept of a mixed‑gender Presidents Cup.
With five of the world’s top six women golfers (as of September 29) eligible under the current International criteria, a partnership with the LPGA could create a balanced, high‑profile event. Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley suggested to Sky Sports that a joint PGA‑LPGA venture might produce two equally strong teams. He cautioned, however, that the PGA Tour has so far resisted such a move. Introducing women into the competition would raise logistical questions—different tee boxes, format tweaks, scheduling coordination, and tour agreements—but the idea has supporters.
Australian golfer Min Woo Lee said he would love to see his sister, Minjee Lee, join a mixed team: "It would be fun, and a mixed best‑ball or mixed foursome would be unbelievable." While the practicalities are complex, the proposal underscores the desire for fresh approaches that could level the playing field. Another avenue for change is geography. The Presidents Cup has been hosted almost exclusively in the United States, with only four foreign nations—South Africa, Australia, Canada and South Korea—ever staging the event.
Expanding the venue pool could expose the PGA Tour’s marquee team event to new markets and inspire a fresh generation of international talent. South Africa, a country with a rich golfing heritage and recent strong attendance at LIV events, has not hosted since the historic 15‑15 tie in 2003. Meanwhile, emerging markets such as the Middle East, India, Japan and New Zealand present untapped opportunities.
Moving the Cup abroad could also benefit Team USA by giving its players more experience competing away from home, a factor that has contributed to a poor Ryder Cup record on foreign soil. Europe already runs several team‑match‑play events—like the now‑defunct Seve Trophy, the current Hero Cup, and the former EurAsia Cup—that give players a taste of team dynamics.
A similar competition for the International side could serve as a preparatory platform, allowing captains to experiment with pairings ahead of the Presidents Cup. Scheduling would be the biggest hurdle. The Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup alternate years, so any new event would need to fit into a crowded calendar.
An early‑season slot, similar to the Hero Cup, might work before the PGA Tour swing begins. Alternatively, a biennial tournament in the off‑years could be created, perhaps pitting Asia against the rest of the world or North versus South Hemisphere teams. The LPGA already runs the International Crown, a nation‑based competition with multiple formats; a male counterpart is conspicuously absent.
One could envision a post‑Ryder Cup, off‑season event that isn’t controlled by the PGA Tour, offering another global showcase for team golf. Such an addition would not only give International players more high‑pressure match‑play experience but also diversify the sport’s calendar and potentially raise the Presidents Cup’s profile.
In summary, the latest American victory—while impressive—has sparked a broader debate about the future of the Presidents Cup. Whether the solution lies in trimming the schedule, granting the International side freedom to select LIV players, creating a mixed‑gender format, or moving the tournament to new continents, the consensus is clear: the event must evolve if it hopes to remain compelling and competitive.
The next major team showdown will be the Ryder Cup in Ireland this September, followed by the 2028 Presidents Cup at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, where any reforms could be tested on a global stage.