Presidents Cup picks 2026: Our experts' favorite plays at Medinah
Tracy Wilcox
It's Presidents Cup week at Medinah, and, surprise, surprise, the U.S. team is heavily favored to take down the Internationals for an 11th straight time. It's hard to imagine any other outcome given the talent discrepancy between the two rosters, removing a lot of potential intrigue from the biennial event.
That said, the plethora of betting offerings for these team events can quickly turn this into a must-watch affair. There are top point-scorer props galore, plus myriad ways to bet the U.S. side at much better prices than their -420 to win tag at most books.
Our experts share some of their favorite plays for this week below.
Presidents Cup picks 2026: Pick to win
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: U.S. to win (-420, DraftKings) — Take them against the spread if you hate the odds.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: U.S. -2.5, Outright Spread (-220, FanDuel) — The edge here is to give a couple of points to the International Team and cut the moneyline in half. The USA to win outright is pushing -500! You can give more points and cut the odds even more, but this seems realistic.
Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: U.S. -4.5, Outright Spread (-113, FanDuel) — The International Team is just overmatched against a U.S. squad that just saw its "worst" player win the tune-up event last week in Asheville. The real winner will be Medinah. It's a great venue for a match-play event.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: U.S. -4.5, Outright Spread (-113, FanDuel) — I don’t think the Internationals can get as close as four points from the Americans, so this feels like a pretty safe bet, while getting the odds to a better place than the -450 to take the Cup.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: U.S. -2.5, Outright Spread (-220, FanDuel) — The American side has covered this margin on home soil five straight times. They will make it six in a row this week.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: U.S. 17.5-INT 12.5, Outright Correct Score (+1000, FanDuel) — When I ran my simulations, this came out as the most likely outcome for me. It’s tough to find a lot of value on this board. I expect the United States to win, but you are paying a real premium there and my numbers have them as a touch over-valued. Ultimately, my sims reflect that the most likely outcome is U.S. winning between 16.5 and 18 points, so let’s split the difference and roll with a 17.5 to 12.5 outcome.
David Gordon, ESPN Research: U.S. to win (-420, DraftKings) — Give me the United States -420 in a "set it and forget it" play -- that'll be a free latte come next Monday. In all seriousness, the U.S. is nearly twice as large a favorite as 2024 (approx. -250) and I think both years could've seen figures twice these prices.
Presidents Cup picks 2026: Favorite U.S.-related prop
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Wyndham Clark, Top U.S. point-scorer (+1175, DraftKings) — Being a big hitter should keep him in every fourball match and his elite short game and putting makes him one of the more viable options for alternate shot. Gives him the chance to play all five sessions.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: U.S. Day 2 Winner (-155, FanDuel) — The United States leads the all-time foursomes format in the Presidents Cup 92.5 to 58.5. I’m going with the day where they play five matches in alternate shot and taking the Americans.
Ben Jared
Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: Sam Burns, Top Overall point-scorer (+1150, DraftKings) — I like this venue for Burns, and it's impossible to argue with his end-of-the-year form.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Sam Burns, Top 3 U.S. point-scorer (+225, DraftKings) — Burns had such a fantastic 2026, and if you believe he’ll partner with his buddy Scottie Scheffler for at least a few of the matches, he’ll have a good chance for two full points from those matches. Give him a singles win—and with his putter and consistent all-around play, he might even play four matches—this should have a good chance of cashing.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Chris Gotterup, Top Overall point-scorer (+1800, Caesars Sportsbook) — Gotterup may be a rookie in this event, but I highly doubt Brandt Snedeker will treat him as such. Based off recent form and his 2026 resume, you can argue he's the second-best player on the U.S. side, and the early practice round groupings seem to have him alongside Cameron Young, who I expect to see in every session. That could mean a lot of run for Gotterup.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Sam Burns, Top U.S. point-scorer (+850, DraftKings) — Scottie Scheffler is the big favorite in this category for obvious reasons, but I wouldn’t be surprised if captain Brandt Snedeker decided to pair Burns with Scheffler, something we did not see in the Ryder Cup. Even if not paired with Scheffler, I love Burns’ fit on this golf course. He’s the best putter in this field, and does an excellent job of avoiding the left miss.
David Gordon, ESPN Research: U.S. 19.5-INT 10.5, Outright Correct Score (+1400, FanDuel) — I think the biggest drama on Sunday will be whether the United States can break the all-time margin of victory (11 points in the 32-point format back in 2000), and whether they can get to 20 points for the first time in what is now the seventh President Cup in the 30-point format. It might be asking for a hair too much so I'll take a flier on this outcome with a juicy payout.
Presidents Cup picks 2026: Favorite International-related prop
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Ryan Fox, Top International point-scorer (+1500, DraftKings) — For the International side, if you think they’re going to lose, as I do, it probably won’t take that many points to be the top point scorer. Hell, 2.5 is probably good for a split at worst. So, it’s all about projecting who is going to play the most and hope to get their through attrition. I think Fox, based on being the only current major champion (along with his performance at Wentworth last week) is one of the few that should see all five sessions. And he’s the longest odds of the bunch.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Ryan Fox, Top International rookie point-scorer (+225, DraftKings) — The current Champion Golfer of the Year has the most versatility of the International debutants. Ryan Fox also is the only rookie on their squad who qualified to make the team. If the INTs are going to keep this close, Fox is playing four-plus times, which gives him a decided scoring edge versus the other three in this group.
Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: Min Woo Lee, Top International point-scorer (+900, FanDuel) — Min Woo's got the game to handle a long, soft Medinah, and his aggressive style is well-suited for match play. I thought this price would be significantly shorter.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Tom Kim, Top International qualifier point-scorer (+435, DraftKings) — We saw the fire that Tom Kim brings to the Presidents Cup, and given he had a fantastic rebound year, I expect the Internationals to ride him a bit, especially if he takes home a point on Day 1.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Tom Kim, Top International point-scorer (+800, FanDuel) — Andy nails it below. TK proved himself the emotional leader of the International side in his first two Presidents Cups. I expect Ogilvy to run him out in every session, giving him ample opportunity to accumulate points.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Tom Kim, Top International point-scorer (+800, FanDuel) — I would make Tom Kim the second favorite in this market behind only Si Woo Kim, and he is not being priced that way. Kim already has some nice Presidents Cup experience and is a great fit for Medinah No. 3. His ability to keep the ball in play off the tee and excellent iron play should pay dividends at the OCM design.
David Gordon, ESPN Research: Ryo Hisatsune, Top International point-scorer (+1600, DraftKings) — I'll take another flier here and back the President Cup rookie to be among the few bright spots on this International Team. I'm anticipating he won't be going up against the best players on the United States.
Presidents Cup picks 2026: Favorite miscellaneous prop
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: U.S. Day 1 winner (-152, DraftKings) — This is where the USA separates from the International squad every two years. In alternate shot, two lesser talents can fuse to better than the sum of their parts, but they can’t in fourball. This is where talent and birdie making come into play.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Day 3 Foursomes Winner, U.S. (+105, FanDuel) — The final format of the team matches is Saturday afternoon at Medinah. The crowds should be electric, maximizing the home course advantage. Take the United States’ best format against the Internationals and the plus odds.
Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: U.S. 19.5-INT 10.5, Outright Correct Score (+1400, FanDuel) — There is no handicap here. I like the U.S. by margin, and this is the best price in the range where I think this falls.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: U.S. Day 1 winner (-152, DraftKings) — We’ll see five fourballs matches on Day 1 compared to four of them on Day 3, so we get slightly worse odds here. But I like the Americans’ chances on securing a slight edge on points here to cash this prop.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: U.S. Day 1 winner (-152, DraftKings) — Maybe the only true "lock" of the entire golf season. The U.S. has won the first session in eight of the last nine Presidents Cups.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Jackson Koivun, Top Overall Rookie point-scorer (+310, Fanatics) — My numbers really love Jackson Koivun’s course fit, it’s just a matter of whether or not he gets the opportunity. Hopefully, if Snedeker was willing to take a chance on a player like Koivun, the type of youngster the United States typically have overlooked in the past, you pick him to play him. Koivun does an excellent job of avoiding the left miss, and he is coming off a very impressive tune up last week at the Biltmore.
David Gordon, ESPN Research: Cameron Young, Top Overall point-scorer (+1400, Caesars Sportsbook) — The final flier of the week, and while tough to project how many of these players will start after long layoffs since the Tour Championship, it's the perfect opportunity for Young to punctuate his breakout 2026 season and pick up right where he left off from the 2025 Ryder Cup, where he went 3-1-0 in his debut and co-led the U.S. side in points.