Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they delve into the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we preview the Presidents Cup and watch the latest news from the PGA Tour.
U The Presidents Cup starts on Thursday at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago, with the Americans trying to win their 11th straight. The United States has a 13-1-1 all-time record in the event and is the favorite once again. What needs to go right for the Internationals to pull off the upset? And them?
Dylan Dethier, Senior Writer (@dylan_dethier): On paper it looks as unbalanced as ever – perhaps even more so than usual. But this event has a habit of getting a little closer than you expect, at least until late Sunday. It would be amazing for the Internationals to count; his plan to get there is by channeling the energy of Si Woo and Tom Kim plus the unpredictable nature of the match game. Look, they also have very good golfers; why not Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Ryan Fox, Hideki Matsuyama and Co.? I do not know. I’m desperately hoping for a fun Sunday finale.
Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): They need their top players – Hideki, Si Woo, Tom Kim and Adam Scott – to be a firewall and then hope that the variance of match play works in their favor in singles. If their big names are beaten, they don’t have a chance.
Zephyr Melton, Associate Editor for Game Improvement (@zephyrmelton): Do they need…a miracle? Just kidding (sort of). But without the talent they lost at LIV, along with being without stalwart Jason Day, I just don’t see a path to victory for the Internationals.
Take your pick: Which players will be the respective MVPs for each team, and which player can we sleep on who has a big week in Medinah?
Dethier: The US team will be anchored by Sam Burns, who doubles as the US sleeper. We are, as always, sleeping on Sam Burns. Ryan Fox is your man on the International side; This is somehow his debut in the event, and I expect him to go all out.
Schrock: The internationals will be anchored by Tom Kim, and the Americans will rely on Xander Schauffele, who I feel is close to being back to top form. I think we’re sleeping on Chris Gotterup’s potential to have a big week and make us all rethink why he should be in Bethpage.
Melton: US: Wyndham Clark (with a hot putter). International: Si Woo Kim. As for the sleepers, I saw Jacob Bridgeman and Ryan Fox have solid weeks.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp spoke to the media last week and explained the Tour’s new eligibility rules for its Championship Series and Challenge Series for 2028. Our Dylan Dethier I break down the most important subplots herebut what part of what Rolapp laid out was of most interest to you?
Dethier: My key aspect is that in the line, we will have a meritocratic system with a ton of promotion and relegation – but in the short-term transition phase, you will see many familiar names protected, at least for a year or two, thanks to the grandfathered-in exemption categories. It’s almost the worst in the world, but we’re not quite tearing up the bandwagon of the old system here.
Schrock: Agree with Dylan. It is interesting that many names are already in the Championship Series, which you did not expect. Max Homa who is stacking wins in 2023 (which will be five years past when this starts) and Brian Campbell who is on a strange two wins and not much else 2025 come to mind.
Melton: I’m just excited for the word to be made and the hypothesis to be made. Wake me up in a few years when all this is over.
And what are you still scratching your head about?
Dethier: I’m obsessed with these odd gaps and details, so I’d like to see Vijay Singh take advantage of his Life Member status to play 15 events on the PGA Tour in 2027 and then trigger a Career Money List exemption for 2028, boosting him to the top tier around his 65th birthday. I’m pretty sure this could happen, under the rules. (I don’t think it will, although it does illustrate a path available to many younger and slightly less accomplished professionals).
Schrock: It’s very interesting to see how the routes of the DP World Tour stack up. Rolapp said he expects the path from the DPWT to the PGA Tour to continue, but it’s unclear what that will be at the minute.
Melton: I’m a bit confused how this “meritocratic” system came up with a bundle of exemptions for (some) lackluster names. I think there should be some respect for the recent victory, but there are some qualified scratching names for several seasons.
Last week, GOLF presented its latest ranking of the Top 100 Resorts in the world. What’s on your list as the favorite golf resort you’ve ever visited?
Dethier: Bandon Dunes is still the best. But Adare Manor looks like a pretty dreamy home base for any Irish adventure, and one that will have many heads turning (and many trips booked) around the Ryder Cup next fall. More generally, it’s nearly impossible to scroll through that list without getting some serious wanderlust — and a group text disappears.
Schrock: As an Oregon native, Dylan nailed it. It’s Bandon. Everyone else plays for second. (No, I haven’t been to everyone, but I’m open for invitations).
Melton: I haven’t visited a ton of resorts on our list, but one I had to check out earlier this summer was Erin Hills. It’s always nice to walk the fairways where major championships have been played.
