Presidents Cup Format Explained: Four-Ball, Foursomes and Singles
By Staff Writer
2 min read
LoopGolf
Key takeaways
- The 2026 Presidents Cup features 30 total matches: nine foursomes, nine four-ball and 12 singles.
- A team needs 15.5 of the 30 available points to win the Cup outright.
- Four-ball matches are played Thursday and Saturday; foursomes run Friday and Saturday; singles fill Sunday.
- Unlike the Ryder Cup, a tied Presidents Cup has no defending-champion retention rule; the trophy is shared, as it was after the 2003 tie in South Africa.
The 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club is decided across three match-play formats, four-ball, foursomes and singles, spread over four days rather than the Ryder Cup's three. Whichever team reaches 15.5 of the 30 available points first takes the trophy.
How does four-ball scoring work?
Four-ball, also known as best ball, opens play Thursday and returns Saturday afternoon. All four players in a match play their own ball for all 18 holes, and the lower individual score on each hole wins it for that team; a tie halves the hole. The 2026 schedule lists nine four-ball matches in total, five on Thursday and four on Saturday.
What makes foursomes different?
Foursomes, or alternate shot, is the tougher discipline. Partners share a single ball, alternating tee shots between odd and even holes and then trading strokes until it is holed. The format runs Friday and Saturday, with five matches on Friday and four on Saturday, for nine total.
Four-ball rewards each player's own aggression; foursomes forces partners to absorb each other's mistakes on the same ball.
How do singles decide the Cup?
Sunday is reserved for singles, the only session in which every player on both 12-man rosters competes. It is a straight head-to-head match across 18 holes, with the lower score on each hole again winning it and a full point going to the outright winner of the match.
| Format | Days played | Matches | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four-ball | Thu, Sat | 9 | Each player plays own ball; low score wins hole |
| Foursomes | Fri, Sat | 9 | Partners alternate shots on one ball |
| Singles | Sun | 12 | Head-to-head, all 12 players per team compete |
What happens if the Presidents Cup ends in a tie?
Because 30 points are in play, a 15-15 deadlock is possible, and unlike the Ryder Cup, there is no rule allowing the defending team to keep the trophy. The only tie in the event's history came in 2003 in South Africa, when the U.S. and International teams were level after singles and a sudden-death playoff between the teams' anchor players was suspended for darkness. Captains agreed to share the Cup rather than resume the next day, and that precedent has held since.
Frequently asked questions
How many points does a team need to win the Presidents Cup?
A team needs 15.5 of the 30 available points, one more than half, to win outright.
What's the difference between four-ball and foursomes?
In four-ball, each player plays their own ball and the better score counts. In foursomes, partners alternate shots on a single ball.
How many total matches are played at the Presidents Cup?
Thirty: nine foursomes, nine four-ball and 12 singles matches across four days.
Do all 12 players on each team compete every day?
No. Only 10 players per team play in each four-ball and foursomes session, but all 12 compete in Sunday's singles.
What happens if the Presidents Cup finishes tied?
The trophy is shared. It has happened once, in 2003, after a suspended playoff between the teams' anchor players.
- presidents cup
- match play format
- four-ball
- foursomes
- singles matches
- medinah country club
- pga tour
