U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker gave President Donald Trump a playful share of the credit Sunday after the Americans staged the largest final-day comeback in Presidents Cup history, storming past the International team for a 17-13 victory at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago.
The United States entered Sunday’s 12 singles matches trailing 10½-7½, marking the first time the Americans had ever trailed in the final session of a Presidents Cup played on home soil.
Then Trump arrived. The president, serving as honorary chairman of the famous golf tournament, addressed spectators from the first tee and greeted players before the competition began.
Hours later, the Americans had turned a three-point deficit into a four-point victory. Afterward, Snedeker recalled a conversation with Trump before the matches.
“One last shoutout: Donald Trump. President Trump. He told me, ‘I am going to bring energy today for you. You guys need it,’” Snedeker said.
“I told him if we did this, he gets all the credit. So, thank you, President Trump.”
The comment drew attention because of the extraordinary turnaround that followed Trump’s arrival.
The International team, captained by Geoff Ogilvy, had outplayed the heavily favored Americans through the first three days.
The visitors held a 7-3 advantage after Friday and still carried a three-point lead into Sunday.
The United States needed at least eight points from the 12 singles matches to retain the Presidents Cup. Instead, the Americans collected 9½.
Team USA won nine of the 12 matches and tied another, outscoring the International team 9½-2½ during the session — the largest singles margin in Presidents Cup history.
Cameron Young started the American surge with a 3-and-2 victory over Ryo Hisatsune.
Justin Thomas and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also delivered early victories, immediately cutting into the International team’s advantage.
Chris Gotterup, Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa added victories as the Americans seized control of the competition.
Twenty-one-year-old Jackson Koivun, making his Presidents Cup debut, provided another pivotal moment.
Koivun birdied the 18th hole to defeat Si Woo Kim 2-up, putting the United States on the verge of securing the trophy, while player Jacob Bridgeman ultimately clinched the victory.
The Presidents Cup rookie was one down to Australia’s Min Woo Lee with three holes remaining but rallied late and arrived at the 18th tied.
Bridgeman then sank a four-foot par putt to win the match 1-up and guarantee that the Presidents Cup would remain in American hands.
“I think these guys never lost faith,” Snedeker said.
The comeback carried additional significance because of the location.
Snedeker played on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team at Medinah that surrendered a four-point Sunday advantage as Europe staged what became known as the “Miracle at Medinah.”
Fourteen years later, Snedeker found himself on the opposite side of a dramatic final-day reversal.
“I told the guys last night that funny stuff happens here,” he said. “Medinah has a history of funny things happening.”
Trump’s presence added another element to the final day.
Air Force One conducted a flyover before the president arrived at the course.
Trump then stood on the first tee, greeting all 24 competitors before singles play began.
Trump had been named honorary chairman of the 2026 Presidents Cup by the PGA Tour, reprising the role he held during the 2017 competition at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.
The president remained at Medinah through the conclusion of Sunday’s competition and participated in the trophy presentation.
The victory continued an extraordinary run of American dominance in the biennial competition.
The Presidents Cup began in 1994 and pits a 12-player American team against international golfers from outside Europe.
The United States has now won 11 consecutive Presidents’ Cups and holds an overall record of 14 victories, one loss, and one tie.
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