U.S. Rallies for Presidents Cup Victory with Trump in Attendance
Americans secure their 11th consecutive win in a dominant singles performance on the final day.
The United States secured its 11th consecutive Presidents Cup victory with a commanding performance in Sunday's singles matches at Medinah Country Club. President Donald Trump, serving as honorary chairman, was present for the trophy ceremony as the U.S. team overcame an earlier deficit to achieve the largest final-day rout in tournament history.
After trailing by three points heading into the final day's 12 singles matches, the American squad rallied to win nine matches and halve another, ultimately clinching the Cup with a 17-13 score. Captain Brandt Snedeker expressed immense pride in his team's resilience, drawing parallels to past dramatic comebacks at Medinah.
Key to the U.S. victory were crucial singles wins from two-time major champion Collin Morikawa and 21-year-old rookie Jackson Koivun. Koivun, who recently played for the U.S. Walker Cup amateur team and helped Auburn win an NCAA title, staged a significant comeback in his match, winning three straight holes to go from 2 down to 2 up. Snedeker lauded Koivun's composure, calling him "special" and "different" for his performance under pressure.
Another pivotal moment came from Patrick Cantlay, who sank a nearly 60-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole against Adam Scott. The U.S. team's momentum built throughout the day, amplified by a loud home crowd. At one point, a spectator's noise disrupted International player Nico Echavarria's swing, leading to a concession from American Scottie Scheffler in a display of sportsmanship before Scheffler went on to win his match.
The decisive point for the U.S. came from Jacob Bridgeman, who secured a 1-up victory over Min Woo Lee with a par putt, guaranteeing the Americans the 15 1/2 points needed for the win.
International captain Geoff Ogilvy acknowledged the difficulty of beating the U.S. team in singles matches on home soil, noting the crowd's impact and the Americans' strong play. The International team's sole victory in the Presidents Cup history remains its win at Royal Melbourne in 1998, with a tie in 2003.