USA vs. Everyone in Golf.
Tired of watching regular stroke play? Every summer, there’s an exciting rivalry in golf known as the Presidents Cup. This global team competition is held every two years between the United States and international teams representing the rest of the world, excluding Europe, which will compete in its own Ryder Cup next year. The tournament alternates between venues in the U.S. and overseas, and it’s unique in that there’s no prize money or purse—players are there just to have fun.
This year’s lineup is incredibly strong, featuring a competitive group from around the world, and the tournament showcased some outstanding performances. The U.S. team’s captain is Jim Furyk, who won the PGA Tour Player of the Year award in 2010 and the 2003 U.S. Open Championship. The team is well-represented, with five newcomers joining this year. Leading the way is World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has recorded six wins in 2024, including an Olympic Gold Medal, establishing himself as the undisputed top player in golf. Also having a strong year is Xander Schauffele, with two major wins this season and 15 top-10 finishes. The rest of the U.S. team includes Patrick Cantlay, a consistent performer with six top-10s this year; Keegan Bradley, a recent BMW Championship winner and future Ryder Cup captain; as well as Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark, who have delivered remarkable stories and performances over the past two years.
The international team’s captain is Mike Weir, who has been ranked in the world’s top ten for over 100 weeks and has won thirteen professional championships. This year’s International Team featured a formidable lineup, with players like Adam Scott from Australia, making his 11th appearance with 14 tour wins; Hideki Matsuyama from Japan, renowned for his consistency in Grand Slam and international tournaments; and favorites such as Min Woo Lee, Jason Day, and Tom Kim, all contributing excellent performances.
Team USA swept the 2024 Presidents Cup, easily defeating Team International 18.5 to 11.5, marking the 10th consecutive win for the U.S. in this event. The U.S. got off to a strong start, sweeping its opponent in the opening match on Thursday, even as the international team made a strong comeback on Friday. Ultimately, the U.S. maintained the lead with a solid performance over the weekend.
The tournament lasts for four days, featuring formats such as foursomes, four-ball, and singles matches. Notably, on the first day of four-ball, Henley and Scheffler holed six birdies to defeat Im and Kim 3 & 2, while the team secured five points for the U.S. In Friday’s foursomes, Cantlay and Schauffele delivered an impressive 7 & 6 victory, finishing with a total of eight birdies on the 12th green, while the international team clawed back five points, tightening the scores as the day progressed. On Saturday morning, the U.S. took three points while the international team claimed one. In the afternoon, the U.S. again took three points, while the international team secured one. Entering the final day, the U.S. team was filled with high hopes. The initial matches were mixed, but the U.S. held on in the final moments to clinch victory. Standout performances came from Scottie Scheffler, who finished with a 4-1 record, and Xander Schauffele, who secured his match against Jason Day. The final point of the 2024 Presidents Cup was earned by Max Homa, who defeated Mackenzie Hughes 2 & 1 in his singles match.
In addition to this year’s Presidents Cup, other noteworthy events in the past have included the Solheim Cup, the U.S. vs. Europe matchup for female professionals, the Jr. Ryder Cup, and the Jr. Presidents Cup, where the U.S. team claimed the trophy for their country. Now that this exciting event is over, we can look forward to next year’s Ryder Cup at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, NY. Bethpage Black is a notoriously challenging public golf course which has been a prominent venue in New York for many years. Known for its narrow fairways, thick rough, and steep elevation changes, it has hosted major tournaments such as the U.S. Open (2002, 2009) and the PGA Championship (2019). The course stretches 7,468 yards from the championship tees and demands precise shot placement, posing a challenge even to the best golfers around the world. The iconic warning sign at the first tee advises that the course is recommended only for highly skilled players, solidifying its reputation as one of the toughest courses in the U.S.
Golf is a complex sport, especially in stroke play and match play, where the responsibility lies not only with the individual player but also with the honor of the team. Typically, each team has the home course advantage, leading many experts to predict the future victory for the U.S. team. However, the strength of the international team should not be underestimated; they delivered many remarkable performances this year. With the Ryder Cup hosted in the U.S. next year, there is great confidence in the U.S. team’s potential to deliver an exciting performance and create memorable moments. We will wait and see!
Lucy Wang
Indresh Chandel