The 2026 Presidents Cup is right around the corner. This year’s matchup between Team USA and the International Team will take place at Medinah Country Club Sept. 24-27.
The best American players face off against the best five players from the six other continents, not including Europe. As a result, it will set the stage for fierce competition in the Midwest at the end of the month.
Medinah Country Club becomes the only club in the world to have hosted a U.S. Open, a PGA Championship, a Ryder Cup and a Presidents Cup.
Six players automatically qualified based on their success since the beginning of 2025. The team of 12 is rounded out by six picks from U.S. Captain Brandt Snedeker.
Let’s break down this year’s American squad.
Related: Presidents Cup 2026: Breaking Down The International Team Roster
Scottie Scheffler
13Aug 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Scottie Scheffler lines his putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The World No. 1 is once again expected to lead another dominant U.S. team. Coming off two wins during the FedEx Cup Playoffs, including the Tour Championship, Scottie Scheffler continues to show why he is the best player on the planet. He recorded three wins and five runner-up finishes this season. Although Scheffler would have liked to turn those second-place finishes into victories, it shows the consistency all season long. Scheffler is coming off a 2024 Presidents Cup start where he logged three points despite two losses.
Related: FedEx Cup Playoffs 2026: 10 Winners and Losers, Including Scottie Scheffler
Cameron Young
13Aug 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Cameron Young hits form the 11th tee during the final round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Coming off last year’s Ryder Cup, Cameron Young was a bright spot for an American squad on U.S. soil. Young netted a co-Team USA high three points last year in his home state at Bethpage Black. This is Young’s second Presidents Cup and first since 2022 when he went 1-2-1. During that Presidents Cup four years ago, his win came in foursomes when he teamed up with Collin Morikawa to win 2 and 1 over Tom Kim and K.H. Lee. With his power off the tee, ranking seventh this season in strokes gained tee to green, if he gets paired with a strong putter, it makes for a lethal combination.
Wyndham Clark
13Aug 28, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Wyndham Clark plays his shot on the first hole during the second round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
As Scheffler won two playoff events, Wyndham Clark won the other: the BMW Championship. It marked Clark’s third win of 2026, with victories also at the CJ Cup, Byron Nelson and the U.S. Open. He ranked top 25 in strokes gained tee to green, approach the green, around the green and putting, showcasing his all-around success this season. In his Presidents Cup debut two years ago, Clark went 1-2-1. His lone came with Keegan Bradley in Thursday’s Four-ball session in 1-up fashion. Clark will be motivated to return to team play after missing out on last year’s Ryder Cup.
Related: 2026 U.S. Open 10 Winners and Losers, Including Wyndham Clark
Sam Burns
13Sep 28, 2024; Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN; Sam Burns of team U.S.A. hits his approach shot to the first green during the foursomes (alternate) round of The Presidents Cup golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Sam Burns is making his third straight Presidents Cup spot and second as a qualifier. Despite going 0-3-2 in his debut in 2022 as a qualifying pick, he bounced back two years later by going 3-0-1 as a captain’s pick. Burns and Patrick Cantlay teamed up to win both Four-ball sessions in 2-and-1 fashion. He also claimed victory with Morikawa in foursomes in 1-up fashion. This season, Burns posted six top 10s and four top 5s. That includes a T4 at the Memorial, a runner-up at the U.S. Open and back-to-back third-place finishes at the Open Championship and the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Burns ranked fourth in strokes gained putting, showcasing a critical need, especially in match play. Made putts can build momentum, which Burns can present any day.
Related: 2026 Open Championship: 10 Winners and Losers
Russell Henley
13Sep 29, 2024; Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN; Russell Henley of team USA lines up his putt on the green of the first hole in singles match during the final round of The Presidents Cup golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Russell Henley is competing in his second Presidents Cup and first as an automatic qualifier. Two years ago at Royal Montreal, he shined, going 3-1. He teamed up with Scheffler to go 1-1 in Foursomes and 1-0 in Four-balls. He also faced Sungjae Im in all four of his matches he appeared in, including a 3-and-2 singles win. Henley has finished T4 or better at the Tour Championship in each of the last three years. That does not include a T3 at East Lake in 2017. His T4 at the Tour Championship this season caps off a year where he posted six top 10s and three top fives. Henley won the Charles Schwab Challenge in a playoff to highlight his season.
Collin Morikawa
13Sep 29, 2024; Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN; Collin Morikawa of team U.S.A. putts on the green of the first hole in singles match during the final round of The Presidents Cup golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Collin Morikawa is competing in his third Presidents Cup as the sixth and final automatic qualifier. He is a Team USA mainstay, having competed in each of the last three Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups. This year marks his second consecutive Presidents Cup as an automatic qualifier. He co-led the Presidents Cup with four points as part of a 4-1 record two years ago. He faced Adam Scott in four of his five matches, going 3-1. This season, Morikawa posted seven top 10s and five top 5s. That includes a third-place finish at the Travelers Championship and a win at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Both were Signature Events as Morikawa continues to show he is one of the best iron players in the game. He ranked fourth this season in strokes gained approach and 26th in greens in regulation.
Also read: Masters 2026: Winners and Losers, including Rory McIlroy
Presidents Cup Captain Pick No. 1: Chris Gotterup
13Aug 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Chris Gotterup hits the ball from the tenth green during the final round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Chris Gotterup is Snedeker’s first captain’s pick. This will be Gotterup’s first time in a team event. With his season-long success, he is hoping to continue strong year into match play. Gotterup tied Clark, Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick with three wins, including two within the first three weeks of the season. He also won the John Deere in July. Also like Clark and Scheffler, Gotterup registered a strong postseason with T4 finishes at the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship.
Presidents Cup Captain Pick No. 2: Xander Schauffele
13Sep 29, 2024; Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN; Xander Schauffele of team U.S.A. reacts after putting on the green of the first hole in singles match during the final round of The Presidents Cup golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Like Morikawa, Schauffele returns to the Presidents Cup for the fourth straight time. However, this is Schauffele’s first time being picked after qualifying each of the last three events. Schauffele has recorded 10 career Presidents Cup points, which tied for 11th on the U.S. all-time list. As a result, he brings that experience to match play. He is 4-1 in foursomes, 3-3 in Four-balls and 3-0 in singles. His singles success has come against Jason Day, Corey Conners and Adam Scott.
Presidents Cup Captain Pick No. 3: Justin Thomas
13Sep 25, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Team USA golfer Justin Thomas holds the flag on the 14th green during the singles match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Thomas is Snedeker’s third captain’s pick. Like Schauffele, this is Thomas’ fourth Presidents Cup, despite not being on the team in 2024. Among this year’s roster, Thomas has the most Presidents Cup points at 11. That is tied for events in U.S. Presidents Cup history, alongside Dustin Johnson. All 11 of his points came in team play, including 4-0-2 in foursomes and a perfect 6-0-0 in Four-balls. This is a player that not only rides the energy, but creates it when he makes a big putt, which can be critical in match play.
Presidents Cup Captain Pick No. 4: Patrick Cantlay
13Sep 26, 2024; Ile Bizard, Quebec, CAN; Patrick Cantlay of team U.S.A. tees off on the second hole during the first round of The Presidents Cup golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Patrick Cantlay returns to the Presidents Cup for the fourth straight time. He finished T25 in four of his final six starts, including a runner-up at the BMW Championship and a T8 at the Rocket Classic. Like Morikawa, his iron play is through the roof, ranking third in the strokes gained approach. He joins Schauffele with 10 career Presidents Cup points. Cantlay and Schauffele have been teamed together for nine matches, the most in Presidents Cup history, going 5-4. That includes four wins in foursomes. He recorded a co-team high four points two years ago in a 4-1 showing. That includes going 2-0 with Burns in Four-balls.
Presidents Cup Captain Pick No. 5: Jacob Bridgeman
13Jul 18, 2026; Southport, ENG; Jacob Bridgeman plays his shot from the rough on the second fairway during the third round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jacob Bridgeman is Snedeker’s fifth captain’s pick. Bridgeman is making his first Presidents Cup appearance. He ranked 12th in the U.S. Presidents Cup standings before being selected. He logged six top 10s and four top 5s, including winning the Genesis Invitational. In that Signature Event at Riviera Country Club, players just below his on the leaderboard included Morikawa, Scott and Young. He ranked 15th in strokes gained total in 2026 while leading the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting. He also ranked second in par-4 scoring, which all proves pivotal to being a well-rounded player to a Presidents Cup roster.
Presidents Cup Captain Pick No. 6: Jackson Koivun
13Jul 25, 2026; Blaine, Minnesota, USA; Jackson Koivun sinks a putt for eagle on hole 18 during the third round of the 3M Open golf tournament at TPC Twin Cities. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Snedeker’s final selection is 21-year-old Jackson Koivun, who busted out on the PGA Tour over the summer. He turned professional in July after a successful collegiate career at Auburn, where he helped the Tigers win the National Championship in June. Koivun made his professional debut at the John Deere Classic before winning the 3M Open three weeks later. He will be the young U.S. player to appear in a Presidents Cup since Jordan Spieth in 2015. He provides that recent match play experience between the NCAAs and the Walker Cup. At the latter, he went 3-1, including 2-0 in singles.
Biggest Snub: J.J. Spaun
13Mar 20, 2026; Palm Harbor, Florida, USA; JJ Spaun plays his shot from the ninth tee during the second round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
The shoulder injury ultimately plagued J.J. Spaun’s chance to compete in his first Presidents Cup. He was forced to withdraw from the Tour Championship last week in Atlanta. Spaun, who was a rookie in last year’s Ryder Cup, recorded four top 10s and two top 5s this season. That includes a win at the Valero Texas Open and a T5 at the Truist Championship. He was the highest American in the standings not to be selected to the roster, ranking 10th.
Breven Honda received his bachelor’s in journalism from San Diego State in May 2021. During his time at SDSU, … More about Breven Honda