If the International Team are going to end Team USA’s Presidents Cup dominance this week, live on Sky Sports, they may require their own ‘Miracle at Medinah’ to do it.
Fourteen years on from Team Europe producing a historic final-day comeback to claim Ryder Cup glory at the same venue, Geoff Ogilvy sees his side head in as heavy underdogs to avoid an 11th consecutive Presidents Cup defeat.
The United States have won every edition since 2005 and only been beaten once in the event’s history, before seven of the 24 players involved in this year’s contest were even born, with all logic pointing to that run continuing in Illinois.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from the final day of the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club, where Team USA claimed victory
Nothing less than victory will be acceptable for Team USA, 12 months on from a humbling home Ryder Cup loss where only a singles fightback prevented a heavier defeat, with Brandt Snedeker aware of the expectation to deliver.
“It’s the elephant in the room you have to address,” Snedeker said. “Just because these last (Presidents Cup) teams have been successful, doesn’t mean we’re going to be successful.
“We have to reset the bar for our team, tell them we have a standard to play to and we’re 0-0. These 12 guys have accomplished nothing and we’re going to hammer that into them.”
Team USA undoubtedly have the stronger line-up based on world rankings and PGA Tour success, with the International Team having four rookies and just three players from the world’s top 30 in their eclectic line-up.
Ogilvy is ready to embrace the tough challenge ahead, but the Ryder Cup has shown – where Team Europe are typically underdogs but have won nine of the last 12 editions – that being the favourite ‘on paper’ doesn’t necessarily bring victory.
“These team events are so compelling of what Europe has done,” Brandel Chamblee told Golf Channel. “Europe have shown that a cohesion of a team can overcome a huge talent gap.
“Almost every time it [the Ryder Cup] is played, you [Europe] are the underdogs and just thrash the United States. Many people will think a massive victory for the United States is a foregone conclusion and they’re a massive favourite, but sport loves an underdog.”
Team USA needed a final-day comeback to win in 2019 and overcame being swept in a foursomes session during the 2024 edition, but Ogilvy – who was part of the course redesign at Medinah – believes the gap between the two teams is tightening.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Si Woo Kim got the Presidents Cup crowd going after making this clutch shot during the foursomes in 2024
“Clearly winning something for the first time – the first time in a very long time – it’s probably more difficult than if you’re winning all the time,” Ogilvy admitted. “But we’re getting closer all the time.”
Can Europe inspire Internationals to historic win?
Seven different nationalities represent the International Team, comprising of players outside of the United States and Europe, all playing under a black and gold ‘shield’ introduced by Ernie Els in 2019 to unite the team.
Nico Echavarria (Cognizant Classic) and Tom Kim (Genesis Scottish Open) are both winners on the PGA Tour this season, while Adam Scott and Ryan Fox arrived in Chicago after strong performances on the DP World Tour at the BMW PGA Championship.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from day four of the Genesis Scottish Open, where Tom Kim closed out an impressive win
“I think we can learn a lot from [Europe], just not being intimidated by it [playing Team USA]” said Fox, the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year, at Wentworth. “I feel like we know a lot of the European players really well and if these guys can do it, we can do it, too.
“We can definitely emulate them and take a little bit out of how they get together as a team. I think the European Team has done a really good job of that over probably the last decade, maybe even longer, just having one collective goal.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch some of the best shots from the 2025 Ryder Cup, where Team Europe claimed a 15-13 victory
“I feel like we’re getting pretty close to that as an International Team – certainly feels like that this year. I think that’s the way we win: have that collective goal, all buy into it, and it will be an exciting week for us.”
Team Europe are the current holders of both the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, following wins in New York and the Netherlands respectively, with Masters champion Rory McIlroy also hoping to see the Presidents Cup also leave American hands this week.
“All we need now is the Internationals to do it (win) – that would be great,” McIlroy said at Wentworth.
McIlroy’s wish is unlikely, but far from impossible. Expect four days of passion and excitement, regardless of whether this is the week the Internationals end their losing streak.
Who will win the Presidents Cup? Watch the United States take on the International Team exclusively live on Sky Sports, with all four days live from Thursday on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.
Leave a Reply