What is the Presidents Cup format?

The Presidents Cup is back and that means one thing: four days of Match Play golf. 

Match Play has become an increasingly rare commodity in modern professional golf but the Presidents Cup, the biennial team showdown between the United States and the International team shows off the beloved format in abundance.

Unlike the Ryder Cup which is controlled by the PGA of America and the DP World Tour, the PGA Tour-ran Presidents Cup starts on a Thursday and provides four days of action.

• Alex Perry’s column: Change the Presidents Cup, or scrap it

The duel first started in 1994 and in 14 iterations, Team USA have won on 12 occasions. The International side only have one win and one draw to their name in the one-sided contest.

And while the Presidents Cup shares the team element with events such as the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup, there are differences in the format.

Here’s how it all works…

Presidents Cup scoring

The Presidents Cup comprises 12 teams of American players and 12 from the rest of the world (excluding Europe). There are 30 matches in total across the four-day event, with 30 points up for grabs. There was once 34 matches, but organisers appear to have settled at the 30 mark. The first team to get to 15 1/2 points wins the trophy.

Presidents Cup format

Thursday: Five matches total, four-ball or foursomes

Friday: Five matches total, foursomes or fourball

Saturday: Eight matches total, fourball and foursomes

Sunday: Twelve matches total, singles

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Foursomes

In foursomes, two players team up as partners and play in an alternate shot format. Each player tees off on odd or even holes and then alternate until the ball is holed, with the lowest score winning that hole.

Fourball

Also known as “best-ball”, two players compete in each team and play their own ball on every hole. The player on the team with the lowest score counts, and the lowest score across both teams wins the hole.

The 2024 Presidents Cup teams

Here are the teams competing at the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club from 26-29 September…

Team USA (Captain Jim Furyk)

Scottie Scheffler
Xander Schauffele
Colin Morikawa
Wyndham Clark
Patrick Cantlay
Sahith Theegala
Keegan Bradley
Sam Burns
Tony Finau
Brian Harman
Russell Henley
Max Homa

Team International (Captain Mike Weir)

Hideki Matsuyama
Sungjae Im
Adam Scott
Tom Kim
Jason Day
Byeong Hun An
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Corey Conners
Mackenzie Hughes
Si Woo Kim
Min Woo Lee
Taylor Pendrith