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Lara Johns • Sep 28, 2026 
Reviewed By Paul Jacobs
Casino Expert
Team USA was one bad Sunday away from its first Presidents Cup loss in 28 years. Instead, it produced the biggest final-day rally the event has ever seen.
The Americans erased a 10.5-7.5 deficit at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago. They won nine of 12 singles matches and beat the International Team 17-13 on September 27.
The Presidents’ Cup comeback came with a political postscript. U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker kept a promise he made before play and credited President Donald Trump.
What Snedeker Said About Trump
Trump attended Sunday’s singles as the event’s honorary chairman. That role traditionally goes to the head of state of the host country. He greeted players on the first tee and kept his public remarks short.
Snedeker said Trump told him he would bring energy for a team that needed it. After the win, the captain shared what he offered in return.
“I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit,” Snedeker said. He then thanked the president by name. Trump later posted the clip on Truth Social, according to Mediaite.
Trump also handed the trophy to Snedeker at the closing ceremony. He did the same as honorary chairman after the U.S. won at Liberty National in 2017.
Snedeker saved most of his praise for his players. He said the group fought for each other, for the team and for the country.
How the Internationals Built a Three-Point Lead
The U.S. arrived as a heavy favorite. Seven Americans ranked inside the world’s top 10, while the Internationals had just two players in the top 25.
None of that mattered Friday. Geoff Ogilvy’s team swept all five foursomes matches and took a 7-3 lead. Foursomes is alternate shot, where two partners take turns hitting one ball.
Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim did much of the damage. The pair won their first three matches together, beating Patrick Cantlay twice. Tom Kim finished the week with a tournament-high four points.
The Americans won back some ground Saturday but still trailed 10.5-7.5 heading into singles. The Internationals needed just five of the final 12 points to win.
OutKick reported it was the first time Team USA had trailed entering the last session on home soil. Snedeker had also been hard on himself. The Irish Star reported he admitted botching several pairings during the week.
Snedeker’s Front-Loaded Singles Lineup Pays Off
Snedeker stacked the top of his singles order. The goal was to put American red on the scoreboard early and squeeze the visitors.
Cameron Young led off and fell 2 down to Ryo Hisatsune after four holes. He won five of the next 12 holes to take a 3&2 win. That means he was three holes ahead with two left to play.
Justin Thomas won five of his first six holes against Corey Conners and cruised to a 5&3 win. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler got a tougher test from Nico Echavarria but won 2&1.
Rookie Chris Gotterup added a 1-up win over Christiaan Bezuidenhout. A two-putt par on the 18th was enough to seal it.
Rookies Koivun and Bridgeman Close Out the Presidents Cup
The middle of the order flipped the event. Collin Morikawa and Hideki Matsuyama came to the 18th all square. Matsuyama made bogey, and Morikawa’s par won the point.
Cantlay beat Adam Scott, who was playing in his 12th Presidents Cup, 2&1. A 57-foot birdie putt on the 16th sent the Medinah crowd into a frenzy.
Jackson Koivun, 21, was 2 down through 10 holes against Si Woo Kim. He won three straight holes and finished 2 up. The Auburn product left Medinah unbeaten in his Presidents Cup debut.
The winning point went to another rookie. Jacob Bridgeman was 1 down with three holes left against Min Woo Lee. He won the 16th, then holed a short par putt on the 18th to win 1 up.
It was Bridgeman’s only point of the week, and it clinched the Cup. Xander Schauffele beat Ryan Fox 2&1. Russell Henley and Nick Taylor halved the last match after the result was settled.
Ogilvy Reflects on a Loss That Stings
Ogilvy said the day sat “on a knife’s edge” for a long stretch. A few putts dropping at the right moment might have swung the momentum, he said.
The Australian said he started Sunday with real hope and liked his lineup. He also praised the Chicago crowd, calling its role part of home advantage.
The loss stretches the International drought to 28 years. Their only win came in 1998 at Royal Melbourne, and they have never won on American soil.
What the Comeback Meant for Presidents Cup Betting
Team match play works differently from typical golf betting, where fans back one player to win. Here, bettors pick a side for the whole event.
Before the first tee shot, legal U.S. sportsbooks priced Team USA as a big favorite. CBS Sports listed the Americans at -550, and FanDuel Sportsbook had them at -590. At -590, a bettor risks $590 to win $100.
Friday’s sweep flipped the market. Sports Illustrated reported the Internationals became favorites after the foursomes session. They were still favored when singles began.
On Sunday morning, bet365 listed Team USA at 9/5, or +180 in American odds. A $100 bet at that price paid $180 in profit. The Internationals sat at 4/6, about -150, with the tie at 11/2.
That gave live bettors a rare plus-money price on the Americans. Live betting means placing wagers after an event has started. Anyone who took Team USA before singles got a far better number than the pre-event line.
Medinah Flips the Script
Medinah owns one of golf’s most famous collapses. At the 2012 Ryder Cup, Europe erased a 10-6 deficit on the final day to beat the U.S. Snedeker played on that American team.
Fourteen years later, the course delivered a comeback in his favor. Snedeker said he told players Saturday night that funny things happen at Medinah.
The U.S. has now won 11 straight Presidents Cups and owns a 14-1-1 all-time record. The 9.5-2.5 singles result was the largest singles margin in event history, per Golf Channel.
Snedeker also used the win to push back on critics. He said he was tired of hearing that American players can’t play team golf.
FAQs
Who won the 2026 Presidents Cup?
Team USA beat the International Team 17-13 at Medinah Country Club in Illinois. It was the Americans’ 11th straight Presidents Cup win.
Why did Brandt Snedeker credit Trump for the Presidents Cup comeback?
Snedeker said Trump promised to bring energy on Sunday. The captain told him he would get all the credit if the U.S. won, then thanked him publicly after the comeback.
Who clinched the Presidents Cup for Team USA?
Rookie Jacob Bridgeman clinched it. He beat Min Woo Lee 1 up with a short par putt on the 18th hole.
What is the biggest comeback in Presidents Cup history?
The 2026 U.S. rally is the largest final-day comeback in the event’s history. Team USA trailed 10.5-7.5 entering singles and won the session 9.5-2.5.
