Presidents Cup 2026: When the chess match at Medinah begins with silence

The most fascinating moment of the 2026 Presidents Cup was not a perfect swing or a spectacular scoring play. It was two minutes of tense silence at Medinah, where no one spoke and no shots were hit. International Team Captain Geoff Ogilvy and his assistants huddled, whispering, while U.S. Captain Brandt Snedeker had just announced his second pairing: Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele. A silence lasting more than a minute – rare in a high-stakes sporting event where every second is calculated. I have followed the Presidents Cup for years, but I have never seen a moment that so clearly demonstrated tactical tension. That's when I realized: this is not just golf, this is a chess match.

The Presidents Cup is a biennial men's team event, pitting the U.S. team against the International Team (players from the rest of the world, excluding Europe). This year, the tournament is held at Medinah Country Club, Illinois – a place that witnessed historic moments of the 2026 Ryder Cup. What makes the Presidents Cup different from the Ryder Cup is the pairing selection process. In the Ryder Cup, each captain submits their pairings independently and only learns the opponent after the announcement. In the Presidents Cup, captains alternate announcing each pairing, and the opposing team can react immediately. This mechanism has created fiery mind games, as seen this past Wednesday.

The U.S. team is heavily favored with a roster of top world stars, led by Scottie Scheffler – world No. 1. However, history shows the International Team is no pushover in the Four-ball format. Throughout the event's history, the U.S. holds only a +5 advantage in Four-ball, which is considered the International Team's strongest format. Additionally, weather conditions at Medinah this year are quite wet after the Chicago area received more than 2 inches of rain over the weekend, softening the course and causing balls to spin back on the greens. Winds are also strong, and more rain is forecast for the weekend. All these factors promise a highly unpredictable showdown.

Let's analyze Thursday's matchups, as this is where strategy is most evident.

Match 1 (12:35 PM ET): Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns (U.S.) vs. Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im (International). Snedeker decided to send Scheffler and Burns out first, though he hinted it might not be necessary. This pairing sends a strong message: the world No. 1 starts right away. However, the Scheffler/Burns duo has never won a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup match together (0-3-1 record). Still, it's hard to pick against the world No. 1 at home. Advantage: U.S.

Match 2 (12:53 PM ET): Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele (U.S.) vs. Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune (International). This is a notable pairing as Schauffele is not playing with Patrick Cantlay as usual. Instead, he teams up with Young – the brightest spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team last year. On the International side, Matsuyama and Hisatsune form the first all-Japanese pairing in Presidents Cup history. Hisatsune was thrilled to play alongside his hero. Advantage: U.S.

Match 3 (1:11 PM ET): Justin Thomas and Jackson Koivun (U.S.) vs. Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria (International). This is the most anticipated pairing as Koivun makes his Presidents Cup debut at age 19. Thomas and Koivun have spent the entire week practicing together, so it was no surprise they were paired. The question is how many sessions Koivun will play? The last time such a young golfer competed was Jordan Spieth in 2026, who played four sessions in his debut. Advantage: U.S.

Match 4 (1:29 PM ET): Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa (U.S.) vs. Ryan Fox and Adam Scott (International). This is a new pairing for the U.S. team. Clark and Morikawa have played together in some team formats but never as official partners. On paper, Morikawa's steadiness complements Clark's power at Medinah. However, Fox is known as a great match-play golfer, and pairing him with the experienced Adam Scott creates a formidable duo. Advantage: International.

Match 5 (1:47 PM ET): Chris Gotterup and Patrick Cantlay (U.S.) vs. Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim (International). The Kim duo is back! The last time they played together, Si Woo Kim danced around the green with Steph Curry's patented "Night, Night" celebration. Cantlay was in that match too and ultimately had the last laugh. Can the Kims get revenge? Advantage: International.

My prediction for Thursday: U.S. leads 3-2.

But don't rush to celebrate for the U.S. team. All data can lie; my job is to catch it in the act. Scheffler's record in team events is truly alarming: he is 6-11-4 overall in Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, and notably 1-7 in Foursomes. That's a concerning number for a golfer considered the best in the world. Is Scheffler struggling psychologically in team play? That's a big question.

Another notable point is the completely different practice strategies of the two teams. Snedeker wanted players to prepare freely in their own way, with no practice matches or money games. Meanwhile, the International Team spent all Wednesday playing full alt-shot matches against another pairing – a directive from the leadership. This difference shows the International Team is seeking cohesion and competitive rhythm, while the U.S. team trusts in individual self-adjustment.

The weather at Medinah is also a factor that cannot be ignored. Heavy rain softened the course, balls are spinning back on the greens, but it's not too extreme. Strong winds persist. Snedeker admitted this threw a wrench in the U.S. team's course setup plans. By the weekend, if the weather dries out, the course could become more challenging. That's when the experience and mettle of top golfers will be tested.

One thing few notice: the Presidents Cup is not the Ryder Cup. The U.S. usually dominates the Presidents Cup, but they do not dominate the Four-ball format. That's where the International Team can create surprises. Moreover, the International Team choosing to play full alt-shot on Wednesday shows they are building an organized and disciplined team, contrary to the U.S. team's freedom. Will that make a difference?

Another small detail: Jackson Koivun, the young U.S. golfer, spent a lot of time around the greens during practice and sometimes struggled with pitch shots. That could be a hidden weakness the International Team can exploit. Truth sometimes lies in the smallest details, and in elite sports, a bad pitch can change the entire match.

Furthermore, holes 1, 2, and 3 at Medinah have an out-of-bounds fence along the left side, adding nerves in the opening moments of matches. This is a psychological factor that can affect young golfers like Koivun. Meanwhile, veteran golfers like Adam Scott or Hideki Matsuyama can use their experience to overcome pressure.

Remember, in 2026, I fell flat on my face at the 350-meter mark in a track meet, and I know exactly what it feels like to be crushed by pressure. The 2026 fall didn't stop me – it changed the direction of my entire track. I switched to sports commentary, and from there, I learned that failure sometimes opens new paths. In team sports, pressure can be a double-edged sword: it can crush a young golfer, but it can also forge a star.

The 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah is showing that elite sports is not just a contest of skill, but also a battle of intellect and psychology. The mind game between Snedeker and Ogilvy in choosing pairings is a vivid proof of that. When all eyes are on the swings, sometimes the silent moments speak the loudest. Will the U.S. team assert its superior firepower, or will the International Team pull off an upset? The answer will be written on the grass, but one thing is certain: this will be one of the most exciting Presidents Cups in history.

And as I always say, the thing called football – or in this case golf – never follows a rigid textbook. It always has absurdities, and it is precisely those absurdities that are the window to understanding the true nature of the game.