Wyndham Clark is preparing for another chance to represent the USA. Still, the 2026 Presidents Cup could include a spectator he never imagined: President Donald Trump.
Trump is expected to attend Sunday’s final round at Medinah Country Club after accepting the PGA Tour’s invitation to serve as the event’s honorary chairman. For Clark, the prospect adds an unusual dimension to an already important week.
“Being an American, having the President of the United States come and watch you play golf is something, as a kid, you don’t ever imagine or fathom happening,” Clark told reporters. “I just think it’s pretty amazing.”
The Presidents Cup begins Thursday and runs through Sunday, matching 12 American golfers against 12 international players from countries outside Europe. Unlike the Ryder Cup, where the United States faces Europe, the Presidents Cup gives players from the rest of the world an opportunity to compete against the American team.
Trump’s expected appearance was a major topic when OutKick spoke with several members of the U.S. squad this week. Their responses frequently came back to the presidency, representing the country and the unusual ability of team golf to put players who are normally individual competitors on the same side.
Team USA Players React to Trump’s Expected Visit
Sam Burns said he believes Americans should respect and support the office of the president regardless of their political differences.
“Being an American, I think it’s very important that we do support our president, regardless of your political views,” Burns said. “I think if you look at our country now, it seems more divided than ever, and hopefully we can get back to the point where all Americans come together, and we’re all trying to reach the same goal kind of.”
Burns has played golf with Trump several times, but said his respect is tied to the office rather than solely to the person occupying it.
“Anyone who’s the president of this country, I respect that position, obviously,” he said.
Chris Gotterup expressed a similar view about having a sitting president make the trip to watch the competition.
“Whoever the president is, if they care enough to come watch us play golf, that’s pretty cool,” Gotterup said. “I know we’re excited, and we’re going to go try to put on a good performance for everyone.”
Wyndham Clark Remembers Trump’s Call After His U.S. Open Victory
Clark already has his own Trump golf story.
After Clark captured the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, defeating Rory McIlroy by one shot for his first major championship, Trump called to congratulate him. Clark said Wednesday that it was “one of the coolest calls of my life.”
What particularly surprised Clark was how closely Trump apparently had followed the tournament.
“He was so complimentary, just saying how good I played. And honestly, it was amazing. He knew every shot,” Clark recalled. “He was like, ‘This up-and-down on this hole, this up-and-down on this hole was amazing.’ And he really said a bunch of nice things.”
Patrick Cantlay’s history with Trump stretches back to the 2011 Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen. Cantlay said they have encountered each other several times since, and he hopes Trump’s appearance Sunday adds some energy to the Medinah crowd.
“I think it’d be great to have the president out, and hopefully it gets the crowd going,” Cantlay said. “I’m expecting the crowd to be loud and behind us this week, and that’s what makes playing home team events so fun.”
Xander Schauffele took a lighter approach, joking about the security complications that come with a presidential visit.
“I’m sure Secret Service wasn’t pumped that he made an early announcement on where he’s going to be, but they’ll do a nice job to keep him safe,” Schauffele said. “It’s awesome that our president loves golf and supports USA.”
Rivalries Take a Back Seat When the U.S. Uniform Goes On
Trump’s expected visit is only one part of what makes the week different from an ordinary PGA Tour event. Several players described putting on the American uniform as one of the most meaningful opportunities in golf.
Jacob Bridgeman called it “the highest honor that you can get in all of golf,” adding that playing for the United States was something he had wanted for a long time.
Jackson Koivun also welcomed the change from golf’s usual individual format.
“I just love playing for Team USA,” Koivun said. “It’s always fun when you’re able to put on the red, white and blue and play on a team with guys who are fighting for the same cause.”
That team atmosphere has even temporarily crossed one of college sports’ more stubborn dividing lines.
Justin Thomas played at Alabama, while Koivun starred at Auburn. The two have nevertheless spent plenty of time together during Presidents Cup practice rounds.
“I’ve been playing a lot of practice rounds with an Auburn kid this week,” Thomas said.
The truce, however, has an expiration date.
“I love him to death, but I hope he has a terrible Saturday,” Thomas joked, referring to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, when Alabama and Auburn meet in the 2026 Iron Bowl.
This week, their uniforms share the same colors.
“We have everybody here pulling for the USA,” Thomas said.
Schauffele similarly pointed to international team competition as an occasion when spectators who might disagree elsewhere can find themselves cheering for the same golfers.
“If players and people can kind of gather under one flag in a sport, it is pretty awesome,” he said. “Luckily, we’re able to do that in golf.”
Burns knows the week will move quickly. Presidents Cups represent only a small number of weeks during a professional golfer’s career, and he said he expects to appreciate those experiences even more after his playing days.
Before there is time for nostalgia, however, the Americans have matches to play.
“All of us guys that are on this squad, there’s nothing more we want to do than to go out and win and represent our country well,” Burns said. “And that’s the plan this week.”
