Team USA continued its unbroken run in the Presidents Cup, defeating the International side once again and reigniting a long‑standing conversation about whether the biennial competition needs a makeover. Brandt Snedeker’s squad produced the biggest comeback ever seen on the final day at Medinah, snatching 9.5 of the 12 points available in the Sunday singles and sealing a record‑extending 11th straight victory. While the final score of 17‑13 suggests a comfortable win, the match‑play narrative was far more nuanced. The International team swept the Friday foursomes, led the competition heading into the last day for only the fourth time in history, and kept the contest tighter than many had anticipated.
Despite those flashes of brilliance, the International side ultimately fell short, prolonging its wait for a first Presidents Cup triumph since the 1998 edition. Geoff Ogilvy’s team matched the Americans well over the first three days, but the Sunday singles proved decisive, allowing the United States to claim 14 of the 16 Cups ever contested. "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 currently spans four days and features 30 matches—one more day and two more points than the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup formats. Because the talent gap between the United States and the rest of the world is generally wider than the Europe‑versus‑USA gap seen in the Ryder Cup, some observers wonder if a slimmer schedule would produce a tighter contest. Reducing the number of sessions—perhaps by playing foursomes and four‑balls only on Friday and Saturday—could limit the number of points available and give captains more flexibility to sit weaker players, easing the pressure on marquee names. Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee has been vocal about trimming the event.
He argues that the Presidents Cup should start on Friday and be reduced to 24 points, mirroring the Ryder Cup’s 28‑point structure. "If you’re playing for 30 points when there’s a larger talent disparity, the stronger team inevitably pulls away," Chamblee said. "A 24‑point format would mean you only need 12½ to win, which could keep the outcome in doubt longer.
The first three Cups were actually launched on a Friday, and the combined scores from 1994, 1996 and 1998 left the teams dead‑even after three days. Extending the event only amplifies the advantage of the deeper squad." Another factor complicating the International side’s competitiveness is the PGA Tour’s ownership of the Presidents Cup, which automatically excludes LIV Golf players.
While the United States has a deep pool of PGA Tour talent, the International roster suffers more acutely because several of its top players have migrated to LIV. In the early years, the International team boasted former world No. 1s such as Greg Norman, Nick Price, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh. Today, players like Chile’s Joaquín Niemann, 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith, and Lucas Herbert are unavailable, diminishing the depth of the squad.
Louis Oosthuizen, a stalwart of the International side, also cannot compete under the current rules. Chamblee contends that the International team should be allowed to select its own players, including those who have joined LIV. "Give the Internationals autonomy to choose who they want," he said.
"You’re telling me they wouldn’t have picked some LIV players for this team? The PGA of America runs the Ryder Cup for the U.S., while the DP World Tour sets its own eligibility, allowing Europe to field players like Jon Rahm or Bryson DeChambeau when appropriate." The conversation has even turned to the possibility of a mixed‑gender Presidents Cup.
With five of the world’s top six women golfers (as of September 29) technically eligible to represent an International side under the current criteria, some have suggested a partnership with the LPGA Tour. Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley floated the idea on Sky Sports, noting that a combined men‑and‑women format could produce two well‑balanced squads capable of challenging U.S.
dominance. He acknowledged logistical hurdles—different tee positions, format adjustments, scheduling, and tour cooperation—but argued that the concept makes strategic sense. Australian golfer Min Woo Lee expressed enthusiasm for a mixed team, saying it would be fun to see his sister Minjee Lee on the same roster.
"Even just a mixed best‑ball or mixed foursome would be unbelievable," he said. While such a change would require careful planning, it could inject fresh excitement into the event and broaden its appeal.
Beyond format tweaks, some critics argue that the Presidents Cup should be taken out of the United States altogether. To date, only four nations outside the U.S. have ever hosted the competition, despite 18 different nationalities having fielded International players.
South Africa, a country with a rich golfing heritage and enthusiastic crowds for recent LIV events, has not hosted since the dramatic 15‑15 tie in 2003. Australia, Canada, and South Korea are the other former hosts, and regions like the Middle East, India, Japan, and New Zealand present untapped markets.
Moving the event abroad could showcase PGA Tour stars to a global audience, inspire new talent, and potentially give Team USA a better chance of breaking its recent Ryder Cup struggles on foreign soil. Europe already runs several team‑match events—such as the now‑defunct Seve Trophy, the current Hero Cup, and the former EurAsia Cup—that give players a taste of team competition.
These tournaments have served as proving grounds for future Ryder Cup participants; for example, Rasmus Højgaard impressed in the Hero Cup before earning a spot on Team Europe at Bethpage Black. A similar competition for the International side could provide an extra week of practice, allowing captains to experiment with pairings and strategies ahead of the Presidents Cup. Scheduling would be the biggest obstacle, given the alternating‑year rhythm of the Ryder and Presidents Cups.
An early‑season slot, like the Hero Cup’s February window, might work, or a post‑Ryder Cup event during the off‑season could fill the gap in non‑Presidents Cup years. Concepts ranging from an Asia‑versus‑Rest‑of‑World showdown, a Northern‑Hemisphere versus Southern‑Hemisphere format, or even nation‑versus‑nation match‑ups could generate fresh excitement. The LPGA already runs the International Crown, a multi‑format team event for women; a comparable men’s tournament is conspicuously absent.
Introducing such a competition could give International players valuable team experience while providing another globally marketable product for broadcasters. As the sport continues to grow—evidenced by the expanding stature of the Ryder and Solheim Cups—there is a clear incentive for the Presidents Cup to evolve. Whether through a reduced points schedule, inclusion of LIV players, a mixed‑gender roster, or relocation to new continents, the event faces a crossroads.
The next edition will be staged in 2028 at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, offering a timely opportunity to test new ideas and perhaps restore a more competitive balance to a tournament that has become synonymous with American dominance.