What Would a Mixed Team Presidents Cup Look Like?

When the Presidents Cup began 30 years ago — drafting off the popularity of the Ryder Cup and trying to give golfers like Greg Norman and Ernie Els team match play opportunities — I don't think the folks at the PGA Tour foresaw the International Team going 1-13-1. While the event has produced a few good moments over the years, the Presidents Cup hasn't developed into anything close to the behemoth that is the Ryder Cup. 

It’s time to take a different crack at the format. 

The ratings may not support the following claim, but the Solheim Cup held earlier this month in the Netherlands was an entertaining and riveting contest. It didn't capture the eyes of the golf world for many reasons, a main one being depth on both sides. The LPGA has been dominated by an international contingent for the last 20 years, give or take, which has been a blessing and curse for the tour. Different leaders have taken different approaches to embrace the player diversity, most notably with the creation of the International Crown in 2014, the LPGA’s effort to put its own spin on a team event. But similar to the Presidents Cup, it hasn't taken off in popularity. It’s difficult to create a foundation or identity when the game’s biggest stars don’t appear to be fully bought in. 

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How do you fix this? On the men’s side, the International Presidents Cup Team lacks depth, while on the women’s side, seven of the world’s top 10 players (in team event terms) are internationals. I'm sure you see where I’m going here. Power brokers in golf have been clamoring for a mixed team competition for years, and the opportunity is right in front of them. 

(All due respect to the Grant Thornton Invitational, but a silly-season money grab isn’t the answer.) 

So, let’s think: what would a mixed team Presidents Cup look like? 

Using the Presidents Cup points lists for the men and a mix of the U.S. Solheim Cup points and the Rolex Rankings for the women with, let’s say, four captain’s picks per side, here’s how the teams might shake out. 

U.S. Team

Scottie Scheffler 
Nelly Korda 
Cameron Young 
Angel Yin 
Wyndham Clark 
Lauren Coughlin 
Sam Burns 
Auston Kim 
Russell Henley (pick) 
Jennifer Kupcho (pick) 
Chris Gotterup (pick)
Kiara Romero (pick) 

‍International Team

Si Woo Kim
Jeeno Thitikul 
Ryan Fox 
Haeran Ryu 
Hideki Matsuyama 
HyoJoo Kim 
Min Woo Lee 
Miyu Yamashita 
Tom Kim (pick) 
Ronnie Yin (pick) 
Adam Scott (pick)
Lydia Ko (pick) 

Both sides would bring stacked teams to the event. Now, what would the format be? I like the Presidents Cup’s four-day format, but success in this proposed idea would stem from mixed matches. For example, Ryan Fox and Lydia Ko taking on Kiara Romero and Cameron Young would be a really compelling watch, especially in foursomes with the right course setup. Who hits the tee shot on a hole would have real implications due to the varying tees and add an extra layer of strategy to the event. 

Highlighting young, rising American women while also showcasing the strongest players on your tour would be a massive win for the LPGA. A mixed event would also inject a little life and a lot of talent into a struggling, lopsided men's competition that desperately needs more of both. 

Want to fix the Presidents Cup's lack of competitive balance? Get the women involved.