Americans Rally to Win 11th Straight Presidents Cup as Trump Joins Celebration/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ The United States erased a three-point deficit by winning nine of 12 singles matches to defeat the International team 17-13 at Medinah. Jackson Koivun, Collin Morikawa and other American players fueled the historic comeback, while Jacob Bridgeman earned the clinching point. President Donald Trump attended as honorary chairman and participated in the trophy ceremony celebrating America’s 11th consecutive Presidents Cup victory.
Quick Look
- Final score: United States 17, International team 13
- The Americans began Sunday trailing by three points.
- The U.S. won nine of the 12 singles matches and halved another.
- It was the most lopsided singles session in Presidents Cup history.
- Jacob Bridgeman secured the clinching point.
- Jackson Koivun rallied from two holes down to defeat Si Woo Kim.
- Collin Morikawa came from behind to beat Hideki Matsuyama.
- The victory was America’s 11th consecutive Presidents Cup title.
- Trump attended as the event’s honorary chairman.
- The president joined the U.S. team during the trophy ceremony.
- The International team’s next opportunity will come in Australia in 2028.
Deep Look
Americans Produce a Historic Singles Comeback
MEDINAH, Ill. — The United States entered Sunday facing its largest home deficit in Presidents Cup history. By the afternoon, however, the Americans were celebrating another familiar result.
The U.S. won nine of the 12 singles matches and halved another to defeat the International team 17-13 at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago.
The dominant final session was the most lopsided singles performance in Presidents Cup history and delivered America’s 11th consecutive victory in the competition.
Every member of the team contributed during the week, from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to 21-year-old rookie Jackson Koivun. The players reflected that collective effort by passing the gold trophy down the line during the closing ceremony.
“Is it a record in singles? That doesn’t happen unless you have a special group of guys, and we do,” U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker said. “I’m really proud of how they came together.”
Snedeker Goes From Self-Blame to Celebration
Snedeker had blamed himself after the Americans fell three points behind during the team sessions.
His mood changed dramatically Sunday as the U.S. established early momentum and received energetic support from the Chicago-area crowd.
The Americans redeemed themselves after being outplayed during the first three days, though a more difficult test awaits them at the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland.
The United States has lost the Presidents Cup only once since the competition began in 1994.
“I told the guys last night that funny stuff happens here. Medinah has a history of funny things happening,” said Snedeker, who played on the American team that surrendered a 10-6 lead to Europe at the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah. “Sure enough, they went out and played their (tails) off today. I’m so damn proud of those guys.”
International Team’s Lead Slips Away
Captain Geoff Ogilvy’s International team entered Sunday with the lead after outperforming the Americans in team play.
It was only the fourth time the International side had led entering the singles session and the first time it had done so on American soil.
With five matches still on the course, the International team needed three points to win the cup. The Americans led three of those matches by one hole, while the other two were tied.
The U.S. players refused to yield.
“It just felt like it was sort of right on a knife edge for a massive part of the day,” Ogilvy said. “If you hole a couple of putts at the right time and get a bit more yellow on the board at the right time, the momentum, and the crowd sort of stays out of it a little bit.
“Just sort of started drifting away for us in the last few hours.”
Koivun and Morikawa Reverse Key Matches
The Americans had struggled late in matches throughout the week on Medinah’s redesigned No. 3 course. On Sunday, they reversed that trend.
Collin Morikawa rallied to defeat Hideki Matsuyama, while Koivun transformed a two-hole deficit against Si Woo Kim into a 2-up victory.
Koivun was two holes behind after the 10th but won three consecutive holes to move ahead. He delivered a strong drive on the 18th and twirled his iron after hitting a precise approach shot that helped complete the victory.
“The kid is special. He’s different,” Snedeker said. “You saw that for a 21-year-old kid to stand up there and hit those last two balls like he did. Not many people like that.”
Koivun’s rapid rise included helping the U.S. win the Walker Cup for amateurs in 2025 and leading Auburn to an NCAA golf championship four months before the Presidents Cup.
Scheffler Confronts Fan Before Winning Match
The Americans received sustained and sometimes excessive support from the crowd.
A spectator yelled during Nico Echavarria’s backswing, causing the Colombian to drop his driver as his ball traveled to the right.
Scheffler confronted the fan. After missing a birdie putt, he conceded a 30-foot par putt to Echavarria in a display of sportsmanship.
Scheffler went on to win his match. Cameron Young, Justin Thomas and Chris Gotterup also delivered early victories as the American deficit disappeared.
Bridgeman Clinches Another American Victory
Presidents Cup rookie Jacob Bridgeman secured the point that officially clinched the competition for the United States.
Patrick Cantlay provided another memorable team-golf moment by sinking a birdie putt from just inside 60 feet on the par-3 16th against Adam Scott.
Scott has now played in 12 Presidents Cups without finishing on the winning team.
“Look, it’s a very difficult thing to beat the U.S. in singles in the U.S.,” Ogilvy said. “They’re great players, and the crowd came out for them. They get a bit of red on the board, and the noise gets loud. They started the day with a lot to do and they all played great.”
The International team’s only Presidents Cup victory came at Royal Melbourne in 1998. The competition ended in a tie in South Africa in 2003.
The Internationals will try again when the event moves to Kingston Heath in Australia in 2028.
Trump Returns as Honorary Chairman
President Donald Trump attended the final day as honorary chairman, marking his second appearance at the Presidents Cup in that role.
He arrived before the 12 singles matches began and remained through the closing ceremony, where he helped present the trophy to the victorious American team.
“These people want to see golf,” Trump said while keeping his remarks at Medinah brief.
After returning to Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, Trump praised the team’s comeback.
“Our team played unbelievable golf. They went in with a massive deficit, and they came out with a tremendous victory, just a great comeback,” he told reporters.
Trump previously served as honorary chairman at the 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National in New Jersey, where the Americans also won.
Tight Security Surrounds Presidential Visit
Security was extensive around Medinah Country Club during Trump’s appearance.
The Secret Service restricted spectators from crossing the first fairway except when Trump temporarily left the course to enter a suite.
Flanked by PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, Trump greeted players and caddies from both teams before their matches. He watched the action on the first tee’s video board between player introductions.
Scheffler, one of several professional golfers who has played with Trump, patted the president on the shoulder when he arrived at the tee. Snedeker also visited Trump multiple times.
“He told me I was going to bring some energy today for you guys, you guys need it, and I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit,” Snedeker said after the victory. “Thank you, President Trump.”
Trump Greets Fans and Addresses the Crowd
Trump signed three hats and acknowledged fans by pointing, waving and giving a thumbs-up.
When someone yelled, “We love you Donnie!” shortly before Gotterup’s opening tee shot, Trump responded with a discreet wave.
During the closing ceremony, he congratulated both teams, posed for photographs and distributed presidential challenge coins to the American players and their significant others.
Rolapp introduced Trump at the beginning of the session, prompting the president to joke that “the fake news media will say I got a very bad reception.”
Trump said Rolapp had asked him to deliver only a short speech.
“I said, ‘No, I don’t have the courage to make a speech. These people want to see golf. They don’t want to hear speeches,’” Trump said. “I’ll only say this: Our country is doing great, better than ever before.”
Air Force One Adds to the Atmosphere
The first tee at the Presidents Cup traditionally features music, flags and a boisterous crowd.
Before the grandstand filled, one of the loudest moments came when Air Force One flew over Medinah. The presidential aircraft created more noise than the commercial planes descending toward nearby O’Hare International Airport throughout the week.
“They were nice enough to name me chairman or honorary chairman, so it’s an honor. It’s a very big event, one of the biggest events in golf by far,” Trump told reporters before leaving the White House. “You have the Ryder Cup, and you have the Presidents Cup, and this is a big one, and so it’s a great honor. So, I’m going there.”
Honorary Role Is a Presidents Cup Tradition
The honorary chairmanship is traditionally offered to the leader of the country hosting the Presidents Cup.
The tournament began in 1994 to include international golfers from outside Europe who were ineligible to compete in the Ryder Cup. Its name reflects the tradition of involving the host country’s head of state.
Then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participated in the trophy ceremony at the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal.
President Bill Clinton attended one round of the 2000 competition at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.
The 2017 Presidents Cup produced one of the event’s most notable presidential gatherings when Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama sat together on the opening tee.
Trump’s Fourth Golf Tournament of the Year
The Presidents Cup was the fourth professional golf tournament Trump attended in 2026.
He visited the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral near Miami in May and attended the LIV Golf event at Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey in August.
Earlier in September, Trump attended the Irish Open at his golf property in Doonbeg, Ireland.
His latest appearance concluded with the American team celebrating another Presidents Cup victory—and a historic comeback at Medinah.
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