Presidents Cup History: One Tie, One Upset, the Records
By Staff Writer
3 min read
LoopGolf
Key takeaways
- The Presidents Cup began in 1994, created by then-PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem as a rival event to the Ryder Cup.
- The International team has won the event only once and tied it once across 32 years of competition.
- The U.S. has gone unbeaten since 1998, an active 10-cup winning streak and a 13-1-1 overall record.
- Phil Mickelson holds the records for most appearances (12, tied by Adam Scott in 2026), most points (32.5) and most foursomes and four-ball points.
- The trophy weighs 28 pounds and was crafted by Tiffany & Co. from five sterling silver circles.
The 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club marks the 12th edition of the biennial event pitting the United States against an International team drawn from PGA Tour members outside Europe, and 32 years in, it remains one of golf's most lopsided rivalries.
How did the Presidents Cup start?
The event was the idea of former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, conceived as a counterpart to the Ryder Cup as that competition grew into a global spectacle in the early 1990s. The first Presidents Cup was played in 1994 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, where the United States beat the International team 20-12.
Has the International team ever won?
Only once. Captained by Australia's Peter Thomson, the International team beat the U.S. 20.5-11.5 at Royal Melbourne, the second-largest margin of victory in the event's history. The International team has also tied the competition once, in 2003 at Fancourt in South Africa.
That 2003 match remains the most dramatic edition. Gary Player's International team swept the Saturday four-balls 6-0 to take a three-point lead into Sunday singles, only for Jack Nicklaus's U.S. team to rally and take 7.5 of the final 12 points, tying the score at 17-17. Because the Presidents Cup has no holders' clause like the Ryder Cup, the captains sent one player each, Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, into a playoff. Darkness stopped the playoff after three holes, and the match was declared a tie.
A single International win and a single tie is the entire non-U.S. ledger in 32 years of the Presidents Cup. Since its solitary loss in 1998, the U.S. has won every edition, an active 10-cup streak that has left the event's overall record at 13-1-1.
A single International win and a single tie is the entire non-U.S. ledger in 32 years of the Presidents Cup.
Who holds the individual Presidents Cup records?
Phil Mickelson's longevity has made him the event's record-keeper. His 12 appearances stood alone as the most until Adam Scott matched it this week, and his 54 matches trail only Mickelson's own career total of 55, a mark Scott is expected to pass at Medinah. Tiger Woods holds the record for singles points, going 7-2-0 across nine editions.
| Record | Holder | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Most appearances | Phil Mickelson / Adam Scott (tied) | 12 |
| Most career points | Phil Mickelson | 32.5 (26-16-13) |
| Most singles points | Tiger Woods | 7 (7-2-0) |
| Most foursomes points | Phil Mickelson | 14 (12-6-4) |
| Most four-ball points | Phil Mickelson | 13 (10-5-6) |
| Oldest player | Jay Haas (2003) | 49 years, 353 days |
| Youngest player | Ryo Ishikawa (2009) | 18 years, 21 days |
How is the trophy made?
The Presidents Cup trophy was created by Tiffany & Company and weighs 28 pounds, according to the PGA Tour. It is built from five sterling silver circles fashioned into the cup by a silversmith, with beaded embellishment and the event's oval logo added last. The finished trophy is vermeil in 24-carat gold, and the original is kept at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Frequently asked questions
When was the first Presidents Cup played?
The inaugural Presidents Cup was played in 1994 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, where the United States won 20-12.
Has the Presidents Cup ever ended in a tie?
Yes, in 2003 at Fancourt in South Africa. The match finished 17-17 after an Ernie Els-Tiger Woods playoff was halted by darkness.
Who has won the most points in Presidents Cup history?
Phil Mickelson, with 32.5 points across his 12 appearances, a record of 26 wins, 16 losses and 13 halves.
How much does the Presidents Cup trophy weigh?
The trophy weighs 28 pounds and was made by Tiffany & Company from sterling silver, finished in 24-carat vermeil gold.
Who is the oldest player to compete in the Presidents Cup?
Jay Haas, who was 49 years and 353 days old when he played for the United States in 2003.
- presidents cup
- phil mickelson
- adam scott
- tiger woods
- medinah country club
- pga tour history
- royal melbourne
