NAPLES, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 09: Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Jason Day of Australia walk from the third tee during the second round of the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club on December 09, 2023 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
What if Lydia Ko hadn’t boarded a plane bound for South Korea immediately after winning the Kroger Queen City Championship and instead headed north of the border to Montreal for the 2024 Presidents Cup?
It’s been talked about for years, this idea of making the Presidents Cup – a lopsided affair that tilts toward the Americans – into a mixed event.
Wouldn’t it be something to see Ko team up again with Australia’s Jason Day, as they did in the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational last December? Ko and Day, of course, won that event at Tiburon Golf Club, a spark that spurred Ko on to a magical 2024.
Ko, who got into the LPGA Hall of Fame this summer after winning Olympic gold in Paris, isn’t eligible for a Solheim Cup, and New Zealand doesn’t have enough good players to qualify for the LPGA’s International Crown.
It’s a shame to have one of the game’s biggest stars shut out of these team events.
The U.S. has won every edition of the Presidents Cup since 1994, with the exception of 1998 when the Americans lost, and in 2003, when the two teams tied. Two-time U.S. captain Stacy Lewis brought up the idea of making the Presidents Cup a mixed event earlier this month at the Solheim Cup.
“It’s the perfect way to blend the two tours,” she said. “The international team will get better very quickly.”
Indeed, if the International team included women, there would be six players ranked in the top eight in the world added to the roster. That’s seven more top-10 players than are currently on the men’s International team.
In Naples, Florida, last year at the Grant Thornton, Billy Horschel told Golfweek that a bigger team a competition that involves men and women would be a home run for golf.
“If it’s not being talked about, then I don’t know,” said Horschel, “maybe we need to change the people in the positions and get some more innovative thinkers in there.”
Andrea Lee of the United States, Billy Horschel of the United States during, Celine Boutier of France and Harris English of the United States walk on the second hole during the first round of the 2023 Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas DeFelice/Getty Images)
Of course, if the LPGA gets involved in the Presidents Cup, that takes away opportunities for the men as well as revenue, since the tours would have to share the pie.
One has to wonder, though, how much longer the PGA Tour thinks this event can go on as is and be relevant. A more competitive cup would go a long way toward growing the game both at home and internationally, which should be at the heart of this competition’s mission.
Not to mention the fact that the top two players on both tours right now are Americans. A Scottie Scheffler/Nelly Korda pairing seems too good to pass on.
Here’s what this week could look like if some forward-thinking officials wanted to give fans a real treat. Note: These teams were created off OWGR and Rolex Rankings and do not include captain’s picks, though those should certainly be part of the selection process. (It also includes LIV Golf player Bryson DeChambeau.)
Team USA
The golf bags of Team USA during a practice round prior to the start of The Solheim Cup at Gleneagles on Sept. 10, 2019 in Scotland. Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Nelly Korda
Nelly Korda of Team USA at the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 1LPGA titles: 14Team appearances: Solheim Cup (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) International Crown (2023)
Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler walks up the first fairway during the first round of the 2024 Tour Championship. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 1PGA Tour titles: 13Team appearances: Ryder Cup (2021, 2023) Presidents Cup (2022, 2024)
Lilia Vu
US team’s golfer Lilia Vu looks on on the third day of the 2023 Solheim Cup biennial team golf competition at Finca Cortesin golf club in Casares, on September 24, 2023. (Photo by Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 2LPGA titles: 5Team appearances: Solheim Cup (2023, 2024) International Crown (2023)
Xander Schauffele
KOHLER, WI – SEPTEMBER 26: Xander Schauffele of Team United States gets a hug from his wife after the United States victory in the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on September 26, 2021 in Kohler, Wisconsin. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
OWGR: 2PGA Tour titles: 9Team appearances: Ryder Cup (2021, 2023) Presidents Cup (2019, 2022, 2024)
Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa of the United States looks across the driving range prior to the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 09, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
OWGR: 4PGA Tour titles: 6Team appearances: Ryder Cup (2021, 2023) Presidents Cup (2022, 2024)
Wyndham Clark
Team USA golfer Wyndham Clark on the 12th green during day two fourballs round for the 44th Ryder Cup golf competition at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
OWGR: 6PGA Tour titles: 3Team appearances: Ryder Cup (2023) Presidents Cup (2024)
Patrick Cantlay
Team USA player Patrick Cantlay reacts on the sixth green during day three singles rounds for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 9PGA Tour titles: 8Team appearances: Ryder Cup (2021, 2023) Presidents Cup (2019, 2022, 2024)
Rose Zhang
Rose Zhang of Team USA reacts to making a putt on the 16th green during Foursomes matches against Team Europe during the first round of the Solheim Cup 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Rolex Ranking: 10LPGA titles: 2Team appearances: Solheim Cup (2023, 2024)
Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau of the United States team looks on during Thursday four-ball matches on day one of the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)
OWGR: 10PGA Tour titles: 9Team appearances: Ryder Cup (2018, 2021) Presidents Cup (2019)
Lauren Coughlin
Lauren Coughlin of Team United States reacts after Team United States wins the Solheim Cup during the Sunday Singles matches during the final round of the Solheim Cup 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on September 15, 2024 in Gainesville, Virginia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 15LPGA titles: 2Team appearances: Solheim Cup (2024)
Ally Ewing
Ally Ewing of Team USA looks down the eighth fairway during Day One of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Casares, Spain. (Photo: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, VIRGINIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Megan Khang of Team United States reacts to her eagle putt on the 14th green during the Saturday Fourball matches against Team Europe during the second round of the Solheim Cup 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on September 14, 2024 in Gainesville, Virginia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
An International Team golf bag prior to the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Lydia Ko, New Zealand
Lydia Ko of Team New Zealand smiles following victory on Day Four of the Women’s Individual Stroke Play on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Le Golf National on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 3LPGA titles: 22
Ruoning Yin, China
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – MARCH 03: Ruoning Yin of China looks across the first tee during Day Four of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on March 03, 2024 in Singapore. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 4LPGA titles: 3Team appearances: International Crown (2023)
Jin Young Ko, South Korea
Jin Young Ko of South Korea tees off on the 13th hole during the Second Round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 28, 2023 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 5LPGA titles: 15Team appearances: International Crown (2023)
Amy Yang, South Korea
SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON – JUNE 23: Amy Yang of South Korea is doused with champagne after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 23, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 6LPGA titles: 6Team appearances: International Crown (2016)
Hannah Green, Australia
Hannah Green (AUS) tees off on the second hole during the third round of the women’s individual stroke play of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Photo by Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Rolex Ranking: 7LPGA titles: 5Team appearances: International Crown (2023)
Hideki Matsayama, Japan
International Team golfer Hideki Matsuyama and caddie Shota Hayafuji walk on the fourth hole during the singles match play of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 7PGA Tour titles: 10Team appearances: Presidents Cup (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024)
Ayaka Furue, Japan
Japanese Ayaka Furue competes in the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club, in Evian-Les-Bains, centre eastern France, on July 13, 2024. (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 8LPGA titles: 2Team appearances: International Crown (2023)
Adam Scott, Australia
May 23, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Adam Scott plays his shot from the 11th tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
OWGR: 18PGA Tour titles: 14Team appearances: Presidents Cup (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024)
Sungjae Im, South Korea
Sungjae Im of South Korea smiles following a birdie putt on the 16th green during day one of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 11, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
OWGR: 21PGA Tour titles: 2Team appearances: Presidents Cup (2019, 2022, 2024)
Tom Kim, South Korea
Tom Kim of South Korea and the International Team celebrates a putt made by teammate Si Woo Kim of South Korea and the International Team on the 13th green during Saturday afternoon four-ball matches on day three of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 24, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
OWGR: 24PGA Tour titles: 3Team appearances: Presidents Cup (2022, 2024)
Jason Day, Australia
Jason Day reacts to his putt for birdie on the 17th green during the Thursday foursomes matches at The Presidents Cup at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea on October 8, 2015 in Songdo IBD, Incheon City, South Korea (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
OWGR: 33PGA Tour titles: 13Team appearances: Presidents Cup (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2024)
Byeong Hun An, South Korea
Byeong Hun An acknowledges the crowd after making his putt on the second hole during the third round of The Sentry golf tournament at Kapalua Golf – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
OWGR: 34PGA Tour titles: 0Team appearances: Presidents Cup (2019, 2024)
