This morning’s announcement makes it official: Brandt Snedeker will lead the United States Team and Geoff Ogilvy will captain the Internationals for the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago.

The biennial competition returns to the Midwest September 24-27, 2026 for what promises to be one of the most compelling editions of the Presidents Cup to date – both for the vaunted competition and its host, which is coming off a multi-year, $23.5 million renovation by none other than the newly named Captain of the International Team, Ogilvy.

Snedeker, a fan favorite with nine PGA Tour wins, brings passion and team spirit to the U.S. side. His resume includes appearances in both the Presidents and Ryder Cups, and he last found the winner’s circle at the 2018 Wyndham Championship. He’s the kind of captain who I expect will energize his squad – and the crowd – at one of the game’s most historic venues.

On the International side, Ogilvy brings a wealth of experience as both a competitor and architect. A three-time Presidents Cup participant and four-time assistant captain, Ogilvy has been one of the International Team’s most influential voices over the past decade. He also happens to be one of the visionaries behind the recently completed renovation of Medinah No. 3, done by his Australia-based firm, Ogilvy, Cocking & Mead (OCM).

A New Look for Medinah No. 3

Long considered one of the most revered yet punishing championship tests in American golf, Medinah No. 3 was once defined by narrow, tree-lined fairways and demanding par threes over water. The course could feel brutally penal – even difficult for the sake of difficulty.

The redesign led by Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead at OCM softened those edges without sacrificing the grandeur. The par threes over water? Gone.

In the place of those penal par threes now are more varied, strategic and fun layouts with expanded greens, wider fairways and a reimagined back nine that’s already earning rave reviews.

It’s a course built for match play and made for drama – and from everything I’ve seen from other golf course photographers in the industry, it looks absolutely magnificent.

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The wrinkle here is fascinating: While the U.S. Team has some say in the course setup (specifically around course agronomy), the actual International captain was instrumental in shaping the very design they’ll be playing. Who holds the advantage?

The Presidents Cup Is Gaining Ground

Since its debut in 1994, the Presidents Cup has been seen as the younger sibling to the Ryder Cup – less heated, more polite. But over the past decade, the competition has gained momentum and credibility, especially with the International Team now taking more ownership of its identity and culture.

The Americans have won the last ten Cups dating back to a tie in 2003, including last year’s victory at Royal Montreal in Quebec, Canada. Still, the International side has steadily narrowed the gap and found new energy with young stars, global representation and strong leadership. Ogilvy’s appointment only adds to that progress.

With two thoughtful, well-respected captains, a world-class venue and a reimagined course, the 2026 Presidents Cup is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and captivating yet – and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out at Medinah.

My Thoughts on Medinah’s Other Courses

The overall quality of the golf experience at Medinah Country Club is absolutely top-notch. Want to know more about it? Check out my older articles on each, linked below.

Publisher’s note: It’s been a bunch of years since I lasted visited Medinah, so please excuse my remedial photo skills in those days!

Medinah No. 1

Originally a Tom Bendelow design, Course No. 1 was beautifully reimagined by Tom Doak into a more natural, flowing layout with wide corridors and cleverly contoured greens. It’s a great walk and one of the most enjoyable tracks I’ve played in the Chicago area. In fact, it has always been my favorite of the three courses at this legendary private club.

Medinah No. 2

Course 2 is the classic members’ course: shorter, tighter and deceptively tricky. It’s a perfect everyday option for those who play Medinah often – less punishing than Courses 1 or 3, but still plenty enjoyable to play with the same impeccable conditions you’d expect here.

Medinah No. 3

The grand-daddy of them all, Medinah No. 3 has played host to the 2012 Ryder Cup, 3 US Opens (1949, 1975, 1990), two PGA Championships (1999, 2006), the US Senior Open (1988), the Western Open (1939, 1962, 1966), the BMW Championship (2019) and is scheduled to host the 2026 Presidents Cup, highlighted in this article.

… Catching my breath…

Basically, Course 3 has been a BIG-TIME test of golf for a long, long time and it will be exciting to see how OCM’s improvements (and the club’s investments) help take it to the next level.

I’ll be keeping close tabs on updates for the 2026 Presidents Cup – follow along for more insights, photography and golf course previews at WiscoGolfAddict.com.