The American Comeback at Medinah

The Presidents Cup has always been the little brother to the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is the biennial competition between the United States and Europe – the Presidents Cup is the U.S. vs. the International Team. The little-brother status has long been warranted: the Ryder Cup was first played in 1927, and the Presidents Cup in 1994. In the Ryder Cup, the all-time record is 27-16-2 in favor of the U.S. In the Presidents Cup, it’s (now) 14-1-1 for America. It has been the United States' competition, and in recent times, it has been the consolation after losing the Ryder Cup to Europe.

But this year was different.

The 2026 Presidents Cup held at Medinah Country Club’s No. 3 course – a course that has hosted three U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, a U.S. Senior Open, a PGA Tour playoff event, a Ryder Cup, and now, a Presidents Cup – was different from those before.  The United States had won 10 consecutive Cups coming into this week. The two events they did not win, 1998 and 2003, a loss and tie respectively, were on international soil. Flat out, they have never been tested at home.

The U.S. won Thursday’s fourballs 3-2, but then got blanked in Friday’s foursomes, 5-0, leaving themselves down by four. After Saturday, they cut the lead to three – 10.5 to 7.5 – with 15.5 needed to win the Cup. At that score, a near impossible feat. But Medinah knows something about miracles. At the 2012 Ryder Cup, the European team needed to win eight of the 12 singles matches to keep their trophy. The U.S. needed the same number. 

People called for Brandt Snedeker’s head all weekend. He put his big dogs out early; they came through. Cameron Young won. Justin Thomas won. Scottie Scheffler won. Collin Morikawa won. Patrick Cantlay won. Xander Schauffele won. Then the rookies came out. Chris Gotterup won. Jackson Koivun, Justin Thomas, Jr. high-stepped his way down 18 and won. And then Jacob Bridgeman knocked in the winning putt. 

America not only made the biggest comeback in Presidents Cup history, but they also held the International team to 2.5 out of a possible 12 points in the Sunday singles. Utter domination.

The Presidents Cup stays home; the U.S. wins 17-13. 11-in-a-row, and moves to 14-1-1 all time. Fly the W!