Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup is the USA against the rest of the world — an International team of the best players from outside Europe — contested as team match play, just like the Ryder Cup. Same three formats, same hole-by-hole match play, but a different opponent and a different betting picture. The starting point for any bet here: the USA have historically dominated this event, so the favourite tag is usually well earned, which pushes the value toward the handicap and the individual matches.
You’ll find the Presidents Cup markets live at Scorebet, from the overall winner to individual match and session bets.
Why the format flips your betting
If you’ve never bet match play, drop the stroke-play mindset. There’s no each-way outright on a single player and no 72-hole leaderboard. Instead the event is a series of head-to-head matches won hole by hole, and the team that banks the most points takes the cup. A player can score badly and still win their match if the opponent scores worse.
So you’re not pricing a field — you’re pricing individual contests and the overall result they sum to. Form matters, but pairings, partnerships and the pressure of team golf matter just as much. A great solo player can be a weak foursomes partner; the team that gels usually beats the team that merely looks stronger on paper.
The three sessions and how they bet
The Presidents Cup runs on the same three formats as the Ryder Cup, each with its own markets:
- Foursomes (alternate shot) — two players share one ball. Pairings make or break it; a mismatched duo gets found out.
- Fourballs (better ball) — each plays their own ball, the lower score counts. More open and higher-scoring.
- Singles — one on one, all 12 a side play the final day. Where comebacks happen and the swing money lives.
You can bet each session’s score, individual matches within it, and the running overall result. Wait for the pairings to drop — reading them is the edge.
The markets that fit the Presidents Cup
- Overall winner — back the USA or the International team to win the cup. The headline bet, but often short on the US side.
- Handicap (points start) — one team given a points head start to even out a strong favourite. With the USA frequently dominant, this is usually the sharper outright play.
- Match betting — individual head-to-heads; the most readable bet once pairings are announced.
- Session score and top points scorer — bet a single session or back a player to top the points table.
The full mechanics of match play and handicaps are in the golf bet types guide — this is where you apply them.
Where the value sits
When one team is a clear favourite — as the USA often are here — the straight winner is too short to be worth much, and the value moves elsewhere. The casual money just backs the USA to win again; the sharper money looks at the handicap, the underdog’s singles depth, and whether the International captain has nailed his pairings. An International side that fancies a fast start in foursomes can be a live bet at a long price, even if the cup itself goes the favourite’s way.
A worked example. Say the USA are too short to back straight, so you take the International team on the handicap at 1.95, staking R200 — they only need to keep it close on the points start. They lose the cup narrowly but cover the handicap: R200 × 1.95 = R390 back, a R190 profit on a result the straight market wouldn’t have paid you for. That’s how the handicap rescues value from a lopsided favourite.
Will your Presidents Cup bet actually pay out?
Presidents Cup markets at Scorebet are fixed odds — your price is locked when you bet. Match and session bets settle as each result is confirmed; the overall-winner bet settles once the cup is decided. Winnings land in your wallet, with withdrawals on local rails — Instant EFT, cards, e-wallets — once your account is FICA-verified. The honest caveat: match play swings on single putts, so spread your stakes across sessions and the handicap rather than loading the lot on one outright.
Bet the Presidents Cup the smart way
Treat it as match play, factor in the USA’s historical edge, lean on the handicap when the straight winner is too short, and wait for the pairings before betting the sessions. When you’re ready, the Presidents Cup markets are live at Scorebet — and the PGA Tour week-to-week markets are where most of these players live the rest of the year.
Frequently asked
What is the Presidents Cup?
It's a team match-play event, similar in format to the Ryder Cup, contested between the United States and an International team made up of the best players from outside Europe — so the rest of the world, excluding European golfers. It uses foursomes, fourballs and singles.
How is the Presidents Cup different to the Ryder Cup?
Same team match-play format, but the opponent differs — the USA face an International side rather than Europe, and Europeans are excluded from that team. Historically the USA have dominated the Presidents Cup more than the Ryder Cup, which is the first thing to factor into any bet.
How should I bet the Presidents Cup?
The overall winner and handicap are the main outright markets, but with the USA often a strong favourite the handicap and individual match bets usually offer better value. Read the pairings as they're announced and weigh which side has the singles depth on the final day.
Why does the International team's wider geographic spread matter to a bettor?
Because the International side draws from everywhere outside Europe — South Africa, Australia, Asia, South America — its players often compete on different tours and rarely team up, which can hurt foursomes chemistry where two players must share one ball. The USA, by contrast, mostly play the same circuit and know each other's games. That cohesion gap is part of why the USA tend to dominate the alternate-shot sessions, and it's worth weighing when betting individual foursomes matches.
Can a Presidents Cup match end in a tie, and how does that settle a match bet?
Yes — an individual match level after 18 holes is halved, with each side taking half a point, and there's no sudden-death playoff as in stroke play. On a two-way match bet with no tie option, a halved match is usually settled as a void with stakes returned, while books offering a tie price pay that selection. Always check whether the match market has a draw line before backing a tight pairing, because a half is a real and regular outcome here.