Snedeker Says Rain-Softened Medinah Echoes Bethpage Ryder Cup

By Staff Writer

September 24, 2026

3 min read

U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker

LoopGolf

Key takeaways

U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker says heavy rain has softened Medinah No. 3, undoing his course-setup plan.
Snedeker called the situation "eerily similar to what happened at Bethpage," the site of the U.S. team's 2025 Ryder Cup loss.
The U.S. has won 13 of 15 Presidents Cups, including 10 straight since 2005, but has lost six of its last eight Ryder Cups.
Medinah has received significant rain over the 10 days leading into the matches, according to Snedeker.
International captain Geoff Ogilvy helped redesign Medinah No. 3 during a renovation completed in 2024.

U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker said Tuesday that persistent rain has softened Medinah No. 3 ahead of this week's matches, undoing a course-setup plan he hoped would favor his team. Speaking to reporters at Medinah, Snedeker said the situation is "eerily similar to what happened at Bethpage," a reference to the rain-affected 2025 Ryder Cup that the U.S. lost.

What did Snedeker say about the course setup?

As the home captain, Snedeker has input into how Medinah's maintenance staff prepare the course, an advantage that can be tailored to a team's strengths. He said his group told Tour staff how they wanted the course to play, with fairways and greens firm enough for the ball to run and bounce off the course's slopes. Ten days of rain have kept that from happening, leaving the course softer than intended heading into the matches.

A home captain can set the golf course. He cannot set the weather.

How does this compare to the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage?

At Bethpage Black last September, then-U.S. captain Keegan Bradley had the course's rough cut down, a decision he later said backfired and helped the European team more than his own. Rain during that week also softened Bethpage's greens, taking away a hard, fast putting surface that tends to favor American players. Europe won that Ryder Cup, extending a stretch in which the U.S. has dropped six of its last eight Ryder Cups and fallen to 3-9 in the competition since 2022.

The Presidents Cup has told a different story. The U.S. has gone 13-1-1 across the event's history and has won 10 in a row dating to 2005 — the same year 2026 U.S. rookie Jackson Koivun was born. Snedeker's comments this week are a rare signal that the American team's run of course-setup advantages may not hold at Medinah.

Competition	Recent U.S. record
Presidents Cup (all-time)	13-1-1, 10 straight wins since 2005
Ryder Cup (since 2022)	3-9, lost last two

Why does Medinah's designer matter this week?

Medinah No. 3 underwent a two-year renovation completed in 2024, led by the design firm Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead. One of that firm's principals is Geoff Ogilvy, who is captaining the International team this week — giving the visiting side a captain with inside knowledge of a course the Americans had hoped to shape to their advantage.

Frequently asked questions

What is the U.S. team's all-time record in the Presidents Cup?

The U.S. has won 13 of the 15 Presidents Cups played, with one tie, and has won the last 10 in a row dating back to 2005.

How has the U.S. performed in the Ryder Cup recently?

The U.S. has lost six of its last eight Ryder Cups and is 3-9 in the competition since 2022, including a loss at Bethpage Black in 2025.

Who redesigned Medinah No. 3?

The design firm Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead, led in part by 2026 International captain Geoff Ogilvy, completed a two-year renovation of the course in 2024.