Essentially, there should not be any difference between the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup. Both events are played by teams, the format includes four-ball, foursomes, and singles matches, and there is no prize money at either patriotic event. The only difference is who the Americans are playing against. In the Ryder Cup, Team USA faces the Europeans, whereas in the Presidents Cup, a mix of players from all around the world forms a team to challenge them. So, what is the stark difference between the two for the players?

Having played in both, Tony Finau was asked this question at the pre-match press conference of the 14th Presidents Cup in Montreal. The 6-time PGA Tour winner replied, “I think it all just boils down to expectation. I think because our U.S. side has been so dominant in the Presidents Cup, we expect to win.” The results the Americans achieve in the Presidents Cup are significantly different from those in the Ryder Cup. Team USA has a 12-1-1 record in the Presidents Cup, winning all the editions except for the 2003 tie and the 1998 loss. On the other hand, in the Ryder Cup, the Americans have a 27-15-2 record, but the Europeans have won the last 10 editions, including the 2023 loss where Team USA was defeated by 11.5 points.

Thus, Finau added that even though he has similar feelings for both events, “because it [Ryder Cup] is so competitive and we have been beat on our side, I think that’s tarnished it slightly.” Recalling the last Ryder Cup, the Utah native explained that due to the losing streak, the United States faces more pressure, as seen in 2023. Hence, he emphasized once again that the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup are indeed different, despite having the same players and format, with the main difference being Team USA’s results. Finau said, “We’ve had great success in the Presidents Cup, and the Ryder Cup not quite as great.”

The PGA Tour pro’s statement suggests that winning the Presidents Cup is far easier for the Americans than winning the Ryder Cup. But why does Finau imply that the Presidents Cup does not have as much competition as the other patriotic events?

The team difference against the United States in Presidents Cup

Somehow, at the Presidents Cup, the International Team always seems to be a bit weaker than the Americans. Let’s look at the current USA Team at the Royal Montreal Golf Club: They have some of the top-ranked golfers representing red, white, and blue. All twelve players are ranked inside the top 25 on the Official World Golf Rankings. Moreover, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are currently ranked world no. 1 and 2, respectively, and between them, they have won three majors this year.

Additionally, Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley both have won events on the PGA Tour in 2024, and the rest of the team has consistently finished in the top 25. On the other hand, the International Team has only one player who has won an event or two, and that is Hideki Matsuyama. Except for the Japanese pro, no other members of the International Team have been as successful as Matsuyama or the American players. Only Matsuyama (7), Sungjae Im (21), and Tom Kim (24) are ranked inside the top 25 on the OWGR, while the other nine players are ranked outside the top 30.

That’s the contrast between the International Team and the European Team. Last year at the Ryder Cup, the Europeans had the best players, like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, and Matt Fitzpatrick. All of them were trending on either the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour, making it difficult for the American side to sweep the Ryder Cup. That’s why the competition at the Presidents Cup is diluted for the Americans, making it easier for them, and they have been winning consistently since 1999.