The Presidents Cup returns to Medinah Country Club this week, but several of golf’s biggest names will be missing when the United States and International teams go head-to-head.
For New Zealand fans, Ryan Fox is safely inside Geoff Ogilvy’s International side after qualifying automatically for his Presidents Cup debut alongside Si Woo Kim, Hideki Matsuyama, Min Woo Lee, Tom Kim and Adam Scott.
But Ogilvy will be without several high-profile players who might otherwise have strengthened his line-up.
Joaquin Niemann
The Chilean is one of the most significant absentees.
Niemann remains with LIV Golf and has won twice there this season, taking his record to nine individual LIV titles. Under the current eligibility situation, he is unavailable to the International team.
Lucas Herbert
Australian Lucas Herbert is another major omission after an impressive year.
Herbert won twice on LIV Golf in 2026 and also finished tied sixth at The Open at Royal Birkdale, where he fired a remarkable second-round 62.
Cameron Smith
Former Open champion Cameron Smith is also unavailable while competing on LIV Golf, removing another experienced Australian from Ogilvy’s options.
Jason Day
Unlike the LIV players, Jason Day was eligible but not selected.
The former world No 1 finished 11th in the International standings but battled a back problem during the season and missed out on one of Ogilvy’s six captain’s picks.
Casey Jarvis and Jayden Schaper were also among those overlooked despite strong seasons.
Spaun Headlines US Omissions
The most eye-catching American absence is JJ Spaun, whose response to missing selection could hardly have been stronger.
Spaun was 10th in the US standings but was overlooked by captain Brandt Snedeker before promptly winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, where he admitted he had played with a “huge chip on my shoulder”.
Snedeker instead used his six selections on Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Jacob Bridgeman and Jackson Koivun.
Bryson DeChambeau is another major name unavailable while remaining with LIV Golf.
Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka were also left out of the American side.
The stage is a familiar one. Medinah hosted Europe’s extraordinary comeback in the 2012 Ryder Cup and has since undergone an extensive redesign.
Now Fox and the Internationals will attempt to create another memorable chapter at Medinah as they chase their first Presidents Cup victory since 1998.
