The United States staged a dramatic comeback to secure their 11th consecutive Presidents Cup, edging out the International Team 17-13 at Medinah Country Club near Chicago on Sunday. The victory extended the Americans’ dominant record in the biennial team competition to 14-1-1 against the Internationals, who consist of players from outside Europe.
Trailing 10.5-7.5 entering the final day’s 12 singles matches, the U.S. team needed at least eight points to retain the trophy. They delivered, winning nine matches and halving one to overturn the deficit. The pivotal moment came when Jacob Bridgeman—making his tournament debut—sank a decisive par putt on the 18th hole to defeat Australia’s Min Woo Lee 1-up and clinch the trophy for the Americans. Bridgeman, who won his second PGA Tour title just the previous week, described the moment as emotionally overwhelming after holding back throughout the day.
U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker praised his team’s resilience and unity during the comeback. He also credited U.S. President Donald Trump, who attended the final day, for providing a boost of energy. “He told me he was going to bring some energy today for you guys,” Snedeker said, adding that if the team won, Trump deserved credit. Several American players, including Cameron Young, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Chris Gotterup, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, and Jackson Koivu, contributed singles victories that helped swing the momentum.
The International Team, captained by Australian Geoff Ogilvy, had been within reach of their first outright Presidents Cup win since 1998. Early singles wins by South Koreans Tom Kim and Im Sung-jae moved them closer to the title, but the team struggled to maintain consistency and faced difficulties on the greens as the day progressed. Ogilvy acknowledged the challenge of defeating the host nation’s team on U.S. soil and reflected on the narrow final margin. “It was on a knife edge all day,” he said. “I don’t think I’d do anything differently. It sort of drifted the wrong way all day.”
The competition took place on Medinah’s No. 3 Course, a venue notable for hosting memorable team events, including the 2012 Ryder Cup, renowned for Europe’s comeback victory. Snedeker referenced that history, noting the “funny stuff” that often occurs at Medinah and expressing pride in how the U.S. team responded under pressure.
Final matches after Bridgeman’s clincher included wins and halves by Xander Schauffele and Russell Henley, extending the Americans’ winning margin. Despite the loss, the Internationals demonstrated competitive spirit and kept the event suspenseful until the closing holes.