The Presidents Cup is a breath of fresh air, different from the usual professional high-intensity golf tournaments. Unlike the majority of professional events which offer up to millions of dollars in prize pools, this tournament goes beyond all that—team spirit, patriotism, and charity. It is a platform where some of the finest golfers unite not to win a prize but to make a difference in the world.

The organizers hold the Presidents Cup biennially, handing golden opportunities for players to compete for glory and other prizes. It helps to blend the spirit of competition with the ability to give back from it. Here’s how you can know why the tournament is more than just a prize earner.

The Presidents Cup is for a greater cause

The Presidents Cup differs from other high-ranked golf competitions, as it offers a huge golfer trophy but no reward. Since its establishment in 1994, it has successfully raised funds worth $56.4 million for 475 beneficiaries all over the globe. Participants in the President’s Cup are not paid to play; instead, you get a rare chance to place a portion of the generated funds from the event to a charity organization of the winning team’s desire.

However, earlier this year, a certain issue arose from Patrick Cantlay’s actions in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. Patrick Cantlay, one of the star players from the US team, had become the fans’ most hated player for the “hat-gate” controversy. Reportedly, in the 2023 Ryder Cup event, Cantlay did not wear the US team cap and alleged that he did not wear it out of protest for not being paid to play.

Cantlay, however, had denied that and claimed in one of the press conferences that “it just didn’t fit”. When he was later questioned about whether participants should be paid to compete in the Ryder Cup, he quietly stated, “It’s not about that. It’s just about Team USA and representing our country.” Patrick Cantlay is playing in the Presidents Cup this year, making it his third time and fans saw him wearing the cap on the first day and previously in practice.

The Presidents Cup has a similar play format to the Ryder Cup but has different participants. The Ryder Cup is a contest between Europe and America while the Presidents Cup is a contest between America and an international team that excludes Europe. One interesting aspect of the Presidents Cup is that it takes place in even years. Meanwhile, they schedule the Ryder Cup for odd years. This clever arrangement ensures that the two events do not occur, simultaneously.

Who’s playing and how the format works?

Notably, Jim Furyk will captain the United States team in the tournament, which is taking place from 24th to 29th September 2024 at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The American team has a star lineup, including Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Max Homa. Led by captain Mike Weir, the International team has its own share of star players like Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Day, and Corey Conners.

Moreover, the tournament uses a match-play format with 12 players per team. The organizers divided the four days into two, with foursomes or fourballs, each having 5 matches per day. The third day consists of two sessions of four balls and foursomes, divided into 4 games each. On the final day, they hold a singles event which has 12 matches in total. So a total of 30 contests begin on Thursday and end on Sunday. Historically, the U.S. has dominated, winning 12 of the 14 previous competitions. Likewise, the International Team won only once in 1998, and both teams tied once in 2000. However, the international team is determined to change the narrative in this prestigious, prize-free event.

Adding to its unique nature is that the tournament does not include the players of the LIV Golf series. Consistent with the PGA’s rules, all players scheduled to play for the Presidents Cup are required to be active players on the PGA Tour except for the LIV players. This essentially bans the LIV Golf players from participating in these events.

With Rolex and Cognizant being the official global partners of the competition, the event succeeds in highlighting its message of sportsmanship and philanthropy. Who do you think will win this time’s Presidents Cup? Let us know your thoughts down below.