Last year in Italy, Brooks Koepka was eligible to start for the United States Ryder Cup squad because of a quirk in the PGA of America’s tournament rules that permitted players from LIV Golf to participate. That won’t be feasible for the Presidents Cup this year.
International captain Mike Weir stated during a conference call with the media on Tuesday afternoon that LIV players would not be qualified for the 2024 event, which will take place from September 27–29 at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. The PGA Tour hosts the biannual tournament between the United States and the rest of the globe (apart from Europe), and participants must be current members in order to compete.
Of course, I want the top players in the world to compete in the Presidents Cup. I hope we get to a place where they are,” Weir remarked. “The predicament we find ourselves in at the moment is regrettable.
“I’ve been informed that they don’t qualify. They won’t be qualified now, but perhaps in the future—perhaps in Chicago in 2026—they will be,” he said. “It is regrettable. Although we would want the top players, I think our team is good. Right now, our team looks fantastic, but as captain, I believe that we want to play the greatest players in the world against the best players in the United States.
Of course, I want the world’s finest players to compete in the Presidents Cup. “I hope we reach a point where they are,” Weir remarked.It is regrettable that we find ourselves in this predicament right now.
“They’re not eligible, I’ve been informed. They won’t be eligible now, but perhaps in the future—perhaps in Chicago in 2026,” he said. “That is regrettable. We have a good team, in my opinion, even if we were to pursue the top players. As captain, I believe that we should match up the best players in the world with the best players in the United States, even though our squad looks amazing right now.
With six months to go until the first round of matches, Weir is now focused on team camaraderie and figuring out how to set up the golf course to make it more favorable to the International team. In fact, a group dinner is scheduled ahead of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill with guys on the team to start the team-building process.
“That’s always been part of our strategy, we have a lot of different cultures, a lot of different backgrounds,” Weir said of the struggle to build connections on a team with so many language barriers. “We have some new faces this year that are looking like they’ll be part of the team. So just getting everybody together and get to know one another and know what the International team is all about.”
The 2003 Masters champion isn’t just focused on a favorable golf course. He also wants a raucous crowd to provide the Internationals with a much-needed homefield advantage. Weir was a member of the International side the last time the event was held at Royal Montreal in 2007, and he admitted the fans were a bit too cordial to Tiger Woods and the Americans, who won 19½-14½.
“I’ll have something,” said a grinning Weir of his home field plans. The Internationals are leaning on the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and plan to tap into their fan base to provide a hockey-esque atmosphere. That said, he wants the entire country to be involved and engaged, not just folks from the area.
The Presidents Cup debuted in 1994 and in the 14 matches since, the U.S. has dominated with 12 wins, one loss in 1998 and one tie in 2003.
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