The 2026 Presidents Cup kicks off Thursday at Medinah Country Club with Scottie Scheffler leading Team USA against Geoff Ogilvy’s International squad in one of golf’s biggest team competitions.
2026 Presidents Cup Picks
Date: Thursday, September 24 – Sunday, September 27, 2026
Venue: Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3
Location: Medinah, Illinois
Format: Match Play (30 total points; team needs 15.5 to win)
Broadcast: GOLF Channel / NBC Sports
Team USA vs Team International: A Historic Mismatch?
The Presidents Cup returns to American soil this week, and the betting market is treating this as one of the most one-sided team competitions in golf. Team USA opens at -400 to win their 11th consecutive Presidents Cup, while the International Team sits at +350. That price gap reflects the reality of the two rosters — the United States features seven of the world’s top 10 players, while the International Team’s highest-ranked golfer is Si Woo Kim at world No. 13. The talent difference is real, and history backs it up. The International Team’s lone Presidents Cup victory came in 1998 at Royal Melbourne, and they’ve been chasing that result for nearly three decades.
Team USA is captained by Brandt Snedeker in his first captaincy role, with a roster that combines proven veterans (Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas) with three Presidents Cup newcomers (Chris Gotterup, Jackson Koivun, Jacob Bridgeman). International Captain Geoff Ogilvy, who happens to be the co-designer of the redesigned Medinah Country Club course being used this week, will lean on Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, and rising stars Tom Kim and Min Woo Lee to keep the matches competitive.
The Venue: Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3
Medinah is one of America’s most historic championship venues. It hosted the 2012 Ryder Cup — remembered for Europe’s “Miracle at Medinah” comeback — and was the site of Tiger Woods’ 1999 and 2006 PGA Championship victories. The course has been redesigned since those events, and Ogilvy’s involvement in the redesign means the International Captain has intimate knowledge of the setup. That’s a real advantage in match play, where course strategy and hole-by-hole positioning matter enormously. The Chicago-area crowd will be loud and pro-American, which typically favors the home team.
Best Bets and Value Picks
Team USA at -400 offers limited value on a straight moneyline given the implied 80% win probability. The better plays are in specific markets — individual player performances, session outcomes, and how the matches unfold. Current Presidents Cup betting odds are available at Bovada. Here’s where to look for the biggest edges:
Winner Pick: Team USA to Win
Despite the short price at -400, Team USA is the correct play. The talent gap between the two rosters is enormous, the crowd will be overwhelmingly American, and the U.S. has won 10 consecutive Presidents Cups. Scottie Scheffler is playing at a historic level, Justin Thomas has been sharp all season, and Xander Schauffele has been a consistent match-play performer. The International Team lacks the top-end firepower to consistently win the four-ball and singles sessions. A U.S. win by a margin of 17-13 or 18-12 is the most realistic outcome, and both fall well within the boundaries of a straight USA moneyline win.
Value Pick: Scottie Scheffler to Score the Most USA Points
Scheffler is the best golfer in the world and has been carrying the U.S. team for multiple international competitions. Against a weaker International lineup, he should dominate his individual matches. His track record in Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup play shows consistent point production, and Captain Snedeker will pair him strategically to maximize his impact across all five sessions. Look for Scheffler to lead the U.S. team in points scored.
Dark Horse: International Team Cover on Session 1
The International Team typically starts well in Presidents Cup competitions, particularly in the opening four-ball session. Geoff Ogilvy is an experienced tactical captain who knows exactly how to set his lineup against the U.S. pairings. The International Team can steal a session even in a losing week, and Session 1 is historically their best opportunity. Value hunters looking for a longshot with real edge should consider International +2 or International outright in Session 1 of match play.
Bottom Line
The 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah is a chance for Team USA to further extend their historic dominance in this event, but the specific dynamics of match play — pairings, momentum swings, and captain strategy — always create opportunities for both sides. With 30 points on the line across four days of competition, the storylines will develop rapidly. Enjoy the return of Presidents Cup to American soil and let’s see if Team USA can extend their streak to 11 straight victories.
