The Presidents Cup returns to the United States in September with one of its most intriguing editions in years.
The 2026 Presidents Cup takes place at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago from September 22–27, with competition running from Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27.
Brandt Snedeker captains the United States, while former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy leads the International Team.
It is a familiar challenge for the Internationals: find a way to stop an American winning streak that has now reached ten consecutive Presidents Cups.
The United States defeated the International Team 18.5–11.5 at Royal Montreal in 2024, improving its all-time record to 13 wins, one loss and one tie.
But Medinah adds an unusual twist.
The course has undergone a major transformation, and International captain Geoff Ogilvy knows it better than almost anyone because his golf architecture firm, OCM, helped redesign Course No. 3 before the 2026 event.
That gives this Presidents Cup a storyline that goes beyond rankings: the International captain helped shape the battlefield on which his team will attempt to pull off one of golf’s biggest team-event upsets.
Here is everything you need to know about watching the 2026 Presidents Cup live, including dates, session times, television information, streaming options, qualification, format and the redesigned Medinah course.
Presidents Cup 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Presidents Cup 2026 |
|---|---|
| Event | 16th Presidents Cup |
| Event week | September 22–27, 2026 |
| Competition | September 24–27 |
| Venue | Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 |
| Location | Medinah, Illinois, USA |
| Course | Par 72, 7,564 yards |
| U.S. captain | Brandt Snedeker |
| International captain | Geoff Ogilvy |
| Players | 12 per team |
| Competition style | Match play |
| Main formats | Four-ball, foursomes and singles |
| Defending champion | United States |
| 2024 result | USA 18.5–11.5 International |
Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3 measures 7,564 yards and plays to par 72 for the event.
The layout was originally designed by Tom Bendelow and most recently redesigned by OCM before reopening in 2024.
USA vs. The Rest of the World — Except Europe
The Presidents Cup becomes much easier to understand once you know who is eligible.
It is not USA vs. Europe.
That is the Ryder Cup.
Instead, the Presidents Cup places a 12-man United States team against 12 international golfers from eligible countries outside the United States and Europe.
That means players from countries such as:
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- South Korea
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Chile
can represent the International Team.
European players remain part of Europe’s Ryder Cup system rather than the International Presidents Cup team.
This difference creates a fascinating dynamic.
The American players already share a national identity. The International side has to turn golfers representing numerous countries, cultures and languages into one unified team over the course of a week.
That challenge has been central to the Presidents Cup since the competition began in 1994.
How to Watch the Presidents Cup 2026 in the United States
The 2026 television event listings identify Golf Channel and NBC as the US television homes of the Presidents Cup.
However, as of August 7, the complete day-by-day television schedule—including exact network windows and digital streaming assignments—has not yet been officially published.
That distinction matters.
Do not rely on hour-by-hour schedules copied from the 2024 Presidents Cup because Medinah’s tee times are different.
Golf Channel
Golf Channel is positioned to handle a significant portion of Presidents Cup coverage, particularly during the weekday sessions.
The network also has a dedicated 2026 Presidents Cup tournament hub covering Medinah, captain announcements and event news.
Golf Channel is available through many traditional television providers and several live-TV streaming packages.
NBC
NBC is also listed for the 2026 event and is generally the most important broadcast destination for weekend Presidents Cup coverage.
Because NBC is available over the air in many US markets, portions of weekend coverage may be accessible without a pay-TV subscription when carried by the local NBC affiliate.
What About Peacock?
NBC Sports increasingly uses Peacock alongside its television golf coverage.
However, the detailed tournament-specific Peacock schedule for the 2026 Presidents Cup had not been formally published when this guide was updated.
If Peacock receives full or supplemental coverage, NBC Sports should confirm those streaming windows closer to September.
This page will be updated once the final broadcast timetable becomes available.
Watching Presidents Cup 2026 Without Cable
If you want Golf Channel and NBC without a traditional cable contract, live-TV platforms are generally the easiest option.
Potential choices include services carrying:
- NBC
- Golf Channel
- Other NBC Sports channels where applicable
Exact channel lineups depend on your location and subscription package.
Before subscribing, check that your package specifically includes Golf Channel.
A service containing NBC alone may only give you part of the Presidents Cup.
For someone who wants only the weekend sessions, local NBC coverage may be enough once the final schedule is announced.
For viewers who want every available session from Thursday morning through Sunday’s final singles match, Golf Channel access becomes much more important.
Presidents Cup 2026 Live in the UK
British and Irish golf viewers should look toward Sky Sports Golf.
Sky has a long history of carrying the Presidents Cup and continues to serve as the primary UK destination for major PGA Tour team events.
Current 2026 viewing guides also list Sky Sports Golf for Medinah.
Viewers without a long-term Sky television subscription can typically access Sky Sports through its supported streaming options.
Exact September transmission times should be checked once Sky releases its week-of-event schedule.
Remember that Chicago is several hours behind the UK, so much of the Presidents Cup will run from the afternoon into the evening for British viewers.
Watching Presidents Cup Online From Canada
The International Team usually creates considerable interest in Canada because Canadian players are eligible for the side.
Canada’s exact 2026 Presidents Cup broadcast schedule should be confirmed closer to tournament week.
Check the PGA Tour’s Canadian rights partners and local sports listings before the opening session rather than relying on an older tournament’s channel schedule.
This becomes particularly important if Canadian players qualify or receive captain’s picks, as broadcasters may expand supplementary coverage.
Watching From Australia and New Zealand
Australia has an especially strong connection to the 2026 Presidents Cup.
International captain Geoff Ogilvy is Australian, and Australian golfers have played a major role throughout the competition’s history.
New Zealand is also represented in the qualification race, with Ryan Fox making a significant move during the 2026 season.
Fans in Australia and New Zealand should use their official PGA Tour broadcast partner once the final Presidents Cup rights schedule is published.
Because Chicago is significantly behind Australian and New Zealand time zones, live competition will generally fall overnight or during the early morning.
For those viewers, replay and on-demand availability can matter almost as much as the live television channel.
Watching the Presidents Cup While Traveling
If you are outside your home country during Presidents Cup week, first check whether your existing sports subscription provides international portability.
Broadcast rights are sold by territory.
That means a service that carries the Presidents Cup at home may not necessarily show the event after you cross a border.
A VPN can alter the apparent location of an internet connection, but broadcasters can restrict VPN usage under their streaming terms.
The most reliable approach is:
- Check whether your normal subscription works while traveling.
- Check the Presidents Cup’s licensed broadcaster at your destination.
- Use the broadcaster’s official app or website.
- Confirm the local start time before the session begins.
This avoids finding out halfway through Sunday singles that your home streaming account cannot play the event abroad.
Best Day to Watch if You Can’t Watch Everything
If you only have time for one day, choose Sunday.
All 24 players compete in singles.
Every player can earn a point directly for his team.
And unlike the partnership sessions, there is nowhere for a struggling golfer to hide.
But Saturday may actually offer the most golf.
With morning and afternoon sessions, Saturday gives fans two waves of matches and more captaincy decisions.
A useful ranking would be:
- Best for drama: Sunday
- Most golf: Saturday
- Best opening atmosphere: Thursday
- Best day for momentum swings: Friday
For a close Presidents Cup, Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon can produce some of the best viewing in golf.
Why the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Is Different
Medinah isn’t simply another PGA Tour venue.
Course No. 3 has hosted:
- Three U.S. Opens
- Two PGA Championships
- The 2012 Ryder Cup
- The 2019 BMW Championship
- The 1988 U.S. Senior Open
- Multiple Western Opens
The Presidents Cup now joins that list.
Golf fans will particularly remember Medinah for the 2012 Ryder Cup, when Europe produced one of the most dramatic final-day comebacks in the competition’s history.
But the course the Presidents Cup players encounter in 2026 is not exactly the same Medinah.
Course No. 3 Has Been Extensively Redesigned
OCM redesigned Course No. 3 with:
- Larger greens
- Bigger-scale bunkering
- Wider fairways
- More open sightlines
- Expanded areas of long fescue
- A revised routing
The renovation was completed before the course reopened in 2024.
And there is an obvious subplot.
Geoff Ogilvy is both the International captain and a principal figure behind OCM.
Few captains in modern team golf will enter an event with such detailed knowledge of the host course’s strategic design.
The Presidents Cup is Changing the Routing Again
Organizers have also created a special Presidents Cup routing.
For example, Medinah’s normal fifth hole becomes the first hole during the competition, while the regular 18th becomes Presidents Cup No. 14. Organizers want more of Medinah’s dramatic finishing stretch to appear while matches are still alive.
There is logic behind that decision.
Presidents Cup organizers say historical data shows fewer than 40% of matches reach the 17th hole.
In match play, a pairing can therefore finish long before reaching the traditional closing holes.
Changing the routing gives spectators and television audiences a better chance of seeing Medinah’s most interesting sections actually influence the result.
Who Will Play for Team USA in 2026?
The final 12-man American team has not yet been completed as of August 7.
Six players qualify automatically and Brandt Snedeker chooses another six.
How Automatic U.S. Qualification Works
The six Americans with the highest qualifying totals after the 2026 BMW Championship on August 23 earn automatic spots.
The system uses weighted FedExCup points accumulated from January 2025 through August 2026.
Major championships and THE PLAYERS Championship receive additional weighting during the 2026 portion of qualifying.
After the six automatic qualifiers are established, Snedeker receives six captain’s selections to complete his roster.
All selections must meet Presidents Cup and PGA Tour eligibility requirements.
Scottie Scheffler Leads the American Race
Scottie Scheffler remained No. 1 in the U.S. Presidents Cup standings following his top-five finish at the 2026 Open Championship.
Sam Burns also made a significant move at Royal Birkdale, climbing to No. 4 after finishing third.
Because qualifying does not close until August 23, however, the remaining FedExCup Playoff events can still alter the automatic positions.
That means it is better to treat current standings as a qualification race rather than a final roster.
How the International Team Is Selected
Geoff Ogilvy also receives six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s picks, but his qualification system is different.
The top six eligible International players in the Official World Golf Ranking after the 2026 Tour Championship automatically qualify.
International automatic qualification closes after the Tour Championship, which ends August 30, with the relevant post-event OWGR used for the team.
There is also an eligibility requirement: an automatic qualifier must have competed in at least 15 OWGR-rated events during the designated qualification period.
Ogilvy then makes six selections of his own.
Ryan Fox Has Made a Major Late Move
The International standings have changed substantially during the summer.
Ryan Fox surged to No. 2 in the International standings after winning the 2026 Open Championship, while the International race has included players from countries across Asia-Pacific, Africa, North America and South America.
That diversity is one of the defining features of the Presidents Cup.
It also makes Ogilvy’s captain’s selections strategically important.
He isn’t simply choosing the six highest-ranked remaining golfers. He must consider partnerships, match-play personalities, experience and how players fit within the International team’s culture.
Meet the Captains
United States: Brandt Snedeker
Brandt Snedeker leads the United States for the first time.
The former FedExCup champion has represented the US in previous team competitions and was officially appointed captain in April 2025.
Snedeker has already added significant leadership experience around him.
Jim Furyk and Keegan Bradley have been named captain’s assistants. Furyk captained the American team to victory at the 2024 Presidents Cup, while Bradley brings recent Ryder Cup leadership experience.
International Team: Geoff Ogilvy
Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy captains the International Team.
The 2006 U.S. Open champion played in three Presidents Cups and later served multiple times as an assistant captain before receiving the main role for Medinah.
His knowledge of Course No. 3 gives him an unusual advantage.
Ogilvy’s OCM design group oversaw the major Medinah renovation, meaning the International captain understands the strategic intentions behind many of the holes.
Colombia’s Camilo Villegas has already been announced as one of Ogilvy’s captain’s assistants.
How Does the Presidents Cup Format Work?
The Presidents Cup uses match play, which creates a very different viewing experience from a normal PGA Tour tournament.
Players are not trying to shoot the lowest 72-hole total.
Instead, each match is contested hole by hole.
Win a hole and you go 1-up.
Lose the next and the match returns to all square.
A match ends when one side’s advantage becomes greater than the number of holes remaining.
For example, if a player leads by three holes with only two left, the match ends 3 & 2.
Three Formats Define Presidents Cup Week
Four-ball
Four players compete in each match—two from each team.
Every golfer plays his own ball.
The lower score from each two-man team counts on each hole.
If one American makes birdie and his partner makes par, the team’s score is birdie.
Four-ball generally encourages aggressive golf because one partner can attack while the other provides insurance.
Foursomes
Foursomes is also known as alternate shot.
Each two-man team plays only one ball.
One player hits the tee shot, his partner hits the next shot, and they continue alternating until the hole ends.
The partners must also alternate which player tees off on each hole.
Foursomes places enormous importance on chemistry.
A bad drive doesn’t only hurt you—it forces your partner to recover from it.
Singles
Sunday strips away the partnerships.
All 12 Americans play one-on-one against all 12 International players.
That creates 12 singles matches and often produces rapid changes to the overall scoreboard.
The Presidents Cup has used a 30-match structure since 2015, with the final day consisting of 12 singles matches.
How Many Points Does a Team Need to Win?
Every match is worth one point.
If a match finishes tied after 18 holes, the point is divided: each team receives half a point.
With 30 total matches under the established format, a team needs 15.5 points for an outright victory.
The running scoreboard becomes increasingly important as Sunday approaches.
Instead of following only the player currently on television, fans often watch the entire board:
USA 12.5 – International 11.5
can mean something completely different if the Internationals lead six of the remaining matches.
That scoreboard pressure is a major reason team golf feels so different from normal stroke play.
Presidents Cup 2026 Schedule
The official event week begins Tuesday, September 22.
Competition starts two days later.
Importantly, organizers currently state that the exact format of play remains subject to change and will be finalized approximately one month before the Presidents Cup.
So although four-ball, foursomes and singles make up Presidents Cup competition, do not assume the precise Thursday/Friday ordering until organizers finalize it.
Tuesday, September 22 — Practice Day
Tournament gates open at 9:00 a.m. local time.
Both teams will practice on Course No. 3.
There are no official matches.
For fans attending in person, practice days provide a more relaxed opportunity to watch pairings form and see players testing different sections of the course.
Wednesday, September 23 — Final Practice
Gates again open at 9:00 a.m.
Captains will continue evaluating potential partnerships before competition.
Team chemistry becomes particularly important here because captains must decide which players make sense together in four-ball and alternate-shot formats.
Thursday, September 24 — Round 1
The Presidents Cup officially begins.
Current provisional first tee times run from approximately:
- 10:35 a.m. to 11:47 a.m. Central Time
The opening ceremony is scheduled around 30 minutes before the first match.
This will be the first time the redesigned Medinah hosts Presidents Cup match play.
Friday, September 25 — Round 2
Friday’s matches are provisionally scheduled from:
- 12:05 p.m. to 1:01 p.m. Central Time
Friday can become psychologically important.
A team that falls significantly behind during the opening two sessions has only Saturday’s double session and Sunday’s singles to recover.
Saturday, September 26 — The Marathon Day
Saturday is the biggest day of the week.
Two separate match sessions take place.
- Round 3: approximately 7:02–7:56 a.m.
- Round 4: approximately 1:15–1:57 p.m.
That means some players could compete twice in the same day.
Captains have to balance form against fatigue.
Do you send your best partnership out again?
Or rest one of your stars ahead of Sunday singles?
Those decisions can completely change the event.
Sunday, September 27 — Singles
Everything concludes with singles.
The provisional final-session tee window runs from:
- 11:02 a.m. through 1:19 p.m. Central Time
The closing ceremony follows the final putt.
Tee times remain subject to adjustment for weather or format changes.
Can the International Team Finally Beat the USA?
That is the central question hanging over Medinah.
The United States has been almost untouchable in this competition.
Its victory at Royal Montreal in 2024 was its 10th consecutive Presidents Cup win, taking its overall record to 13-1-1.
The International Team’s only outright victory came in 1998 at Royal Melbourne.
The 2003 event in South Africa finished tied.
Every other Presidents Cup has gone to the Americans.
Yet golf’s match-play format can reduce the importance of pure ranking depth.
A player does not need to beat the entire field.
He only needs to beat one opponent.
And in foursomes or four-ball, a well-matched partnership can defeat two individually stronger players.
The challenge for Ogilvy is finding enough winning combinations before Sunday’s singles.
Home advantage also favors the Americans.
But Medinah’s redesign and Ogilvy’s unusually detailed understanding of the course add a strategic layer that could make this edition particularly interesting.
Presidents Cup vs. Ryder Cup: What’s the Difference?
People who only occasionally watch golf often confuse the two events.
| Presidents Cup | Ryder Cup |
|---|---|
| USA vs International Team | USA vs Europe |
| International side excludes Europe | European golfers represent Europe |
| Organized around PGA Tour structure | Jointly associated with PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe |
| Held every two years | Held every two years |
| Four-ball | Four-ball |
| Foursomes | Foursomes |
| Singles | Singles |
| Began in 1994 | Dates to 1927 |
The biggest distinction is simply the opponent.
If Rory McIlroy plays team golf against the United States, it would be for Europe in the Ryder Cup, not the International Presidents Cup team.
Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Tom Kim, Min Woo Lee or similar non-European stars, by contrast, can represent the International Team.
FAQs
When is the Presidents Cup 2026?
Presidents Cup event week runs from September 22–27, 2026. Practice days take place Tuesday and Wednesday, while official competition runs from Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27.
Where is the 2026 Presidents Cup?
The event takes place on Course No. 3 at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, outside Chicago.
Who are the Presidents Cup captains?
Brandt Snedeker captains the United States and Geoff Ogilvy captains the International Team.
What channel is the Presidents Cup on?
Current 2026 US television listings identify Golf Channel and NBC for the Presidents Cup. The detailed day-by-day schedule had not yet been released as of August 7.
Is the Presidents Cup on Peacock?
NBC Sports frequently uses Peacock for golf coverage, but the final tournament-specific 2026 Presidents Cup Peacock streaming schedule has not yet been officially confirmed. Check the finalized NBC Sports schedule closer to September.
How many players are on each Presidents Cup team?
Each team has 12 players: six automatic qualifiers and six captain’s selections.
When will the Presidents Cup teams be announced?
The six US automatic qualifiers are finalized after the BMW Championship on August 23. International automatic qualification concludes after the Tour Championship at the end of August. The captains then complete their respective teams with six selections each.
Is Rory McIlroy eligible for the Presidents Cup?
No. European players compete for Europe in the Ryder Cup and are excluded from International Team Presidents Cup qualification.
What is four-ball?
Each player uses his own ball, and the better score from each two-man partnership counts on each hole.
What are foursomes?
Foursomes is alternate-shot golf. Two partners share one ball and alternate shots until the hole finishes.
What happens on Sunday?
All 24 players compete in 12 individual singles matches, with each match worth one point.
Who won the last Presidents Cup?
The United States defeated the International Team 18.5–11.5 at Royal Montreal in 2024.
Has the International Team ever won?
Yes, but only once. The Internationals won the 1998 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. The 2003 competition ended in a tie.
Why is Geoff Ogilvy’s connection to Medinah important?
Ogilvy’s golf architecture firm, OCM, oversaw the recent redesign of Course No. 3. As International captain, he therefore enters the Presidents Cup with unusually detailed knowledge of the host layout.
What to Know Before September
Two things remain unfinished as the Presidents Cup approaches.
First, neither 12-man roster is final.
The American automatic qualification race continues through August 23, while the International race extends through the Tour Championship.
Second, the Presidents Cup has not yet finalized every competition-format detail or published the complete hour-by-hour US television schedule.
Those pieces should become clear as tournament week approaches.
What is already certain is the bigger picture.
Twenty-four players will arrive at a rebuilt Medinah Country Club. Brandt Snedeker will try to protect an American winning streak that stretches back more than two decades. Geoff Ogilvy will attempt to break it on a course he knows from the inside out.
The first official match begins on Thursday, September 24.
By Sunday evening, either the United States will have extended one of golf’s most dominant team-event runs—or the International Team will finally have produced the upset it has been chasing since Royal Melbourne in 1998.
