Yes, once. The International team won the 1998 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in Australia, beating Jack Nicklaus’s Americans 20.5-11.5 under captain Peter Thomson. In 15 editions since the event began in 1994, the United States has won 13, the Internationals have won one, and the 2003 edition in South Africa ended in a tie.
| International wins | 1 (1998, Royal Melbourne) |
| United States wins | 13 |
| Ties | 1 (2003, Fancourt, South Africa, 17-17) |
| U.S. winning streak | 10 straight, 2005 to 2024 |
The 1998 Win
Thomson’s team dominated Royal Melbourne and won by nine points, still the only time the Cup has left American hands outright. The Internationals led by four points after the first two sessions that year, a margin they did not match again until 2026.
The 2003 Tie
At Fancourt, the matches finished 17-17. Captains Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus sent Ernie Els and Tiger Woods into a sudden death playoff, and when darkness stopped it after three holes, the captains agreed to share the Cup. The playoff format was dropped afterward. Under today’s rules a 15-15 tie leaves the Cup with the team that holds it, currently the United States.
Could It Happen in 2026?
The Internationals lead 7-3 after two sessions at Medinah, tying their 1998 lead. They need 8.5 of the remaining 20 points to win outright, while the United States needs 12 to keep the Cup. The live numbers are on the Presidents Cup score page, and the math after every session is on how many points each team needs.
More Presidents Cup
Presidents Cup history and every result · Biggest comebacks and leads · Pairings and results · How to watch