The Match Play Cups of Golf

This weekend, the top players from the United States and Team International will square off in Australia to compete for the Presidents Cup.

The biennial match is one of a handful of major “Cups” that are competed for in the game of golf — all of which include no prize purses.

Here’s a look at the top Cups in golf:

Officially contested for the first time in 1927, the Ryder Cup — named for Samuel Ryder who donated the trophy — pits the top players from the United States against the top players from Europe every two years, with the host region alternating between the teams.

The Ryder Cup only included players from Great Britain & Ireland until 1979 when the team was expanded to include players from all of Europe.

The U.S. holds a record of 26-14-2 in the matches. Europe currently holds the Cup following its 2023 win at Marco Simone in Rome.

The Presidents Cup began in 1994 and features players from the United States against players from around the world outside of Europe. These matches are also held biannually in the alternate years when the Ryder Cup is not being held.

The United States holds a 12-1-1 record overall and is the current holder of the Cup after its win at Quail Hollow in 2022.

This is the top women’s match play event in the world and is named for golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim who was a driving force behind the event’s creation.

Similar to the Ryder Cup, the top players from the United States take on the top players from Europe. These competition, first held in 1990, is also a biannual event that alternates home courses between the two teams.

The U.S. leads the series 11-7 and is the reigning champion following its 2024 win at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Since 1921, amateurs from the United States and Great Britain & Ireland have gathered to compete for the Walker Cup.

Named for George Herbert Walker (grandfather of president George H.W. Bush and great-grandfather of president George W. Bush) the Walker Cup Match is contested on odd-numbered years. Unlike the Ryder Cup, it has not been expanded to include players from all of Europe.

The U.S. leads the series 39-9-1 and is the current holder of the Cup following its 2023 win at the Old Course at St Andrews.

Since its inception in 1973, the PGA Cup has been the premier international event for PGA Professionals, who get to represent their country while cultivating a special camaraderie between their Great Britain & Ireland counterparts.

The U.S. Team owns an all-time 20-7-4 record in the PGA Cup and is the current Cup holder following its 2024 win at Sunriver.

Contested for the first time in 2019, the Women’s PGA Cup features players from five PGA governing bodies: Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, Sweden and the United States.

The Women’s PGA Cup is conducted as a 54-hole, stroke-play event, with each team’s lowest three scores counted after each round. The winning country is the team with the lowest 54-hole aggregate total.

The United States claimed the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup at Omni Barton Creek.