Presidents Cup vs Ryder Cup: teams, matches and scoring
Both use team match play, but the opposing teams, number of matches and tied-contest rules differ.
Editorial correction — 4 October 2026: this archive article replaces an earlier version containing factual errors and unsupported quotations. The original publication date is retained.
The United States competes in both events. Its opponents are Europe in the Ryder Cup and the non-European International team in the Presidents Cup.
| Feature | Presidents Cup | Ryder Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Players per team | 12 | 12 |
| Match days | 4 | 3 |
| Total matches | 30 | 28 |
| Points to win outright | 15.5 | 14.5 |
| Tied contest | Cup shared at 15–15 | Holder retains at 14–14 |
Both competitions use foursomes (alternate shot), four-ball (the better score from two partners) and singles. Each match is worth one point, or half a point per team when tied.
In the current calendar, the Presidents Cup takes place in even-numbered years and the Ryder Cup in odd-numbered years. Historical postponements mean that this pattern should not be applied to every past edition.
