What you need to know about the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte
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2022 Presidents Cup
Over 200,000 people are expected to attend this year’s Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club. Here’s our latest coverage, analysis and news from the tournament.
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The Presidents Cup turns 28 this year, and the international golf tournament will be contested for the first time at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
The competition began in 1994 and affords the best golfers in the world an opportunity to play for country or regional pride in a format meant to loosely mimic the much older Ryder Cup.
A couple of other traits of the Presidents Cup make it stand out from other tournaments. Notably, players are not paid directly for their participation, win or lose. Instead, each golfer allocates an equal portion of the funds generated to charities of his choice. Since the event’s inception, more than $54.4 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup, including a charitable donation of $5.3 million from the 2019 event alone.
Here are other interesting nuggets from the tournament and answers to popular questions.
What is the format of the Presidents Cup?
Traditional golf tournaments start with a large field of golfers all playing individually to post the best score, and lowest total wins. The Presidents Cup, like it’s older cousin the Ryder Cup, is a team event consisting of match play, in which golfers play head to head, either individually or in pairs.
The Presidents Cup runs over four days, like a traditional tournament. The first two days will alternate between four-ball (best ball) and foursomes (alternate shot). The third day of competition will feature both of those formats, one set in the morning, the other in the afternoon. And on the fourth day, 12 singles matches close out tournament play, and it’s here when the title truly gets decided.
Foursomes? Four-ball? What’s the difference?
Foursomes, also known as “alternate shot” play, is a partners’ game. One player will tee off from the teeing ground, and the next shot must be played by his teammate. The players alternate who hits the ball until the hole is completed.
Four ball is a bit simpler: Each player plays his own ball from start to finish, and the recorded score is the lower of the two teammates at the end of the hole.
How are players selected for the teams?
The International Team and United States Team have different selection methods. The International team is comprised of the top eight players from the Presidents Cup International Team Points list, and four captain’s choices as selected by the 2022 captain, Trevor Immelman. The points system for the list is complex, but is predicated on playing a minimum of 15 international or PGA Tour events, and scoring consistently well in those events. Premiums are placed on winning major tournaments.
The U.S. Team is based on the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup points system. The top six U.S. PGA Tour members with the most points through the 2022 BMW Championship — again, weighted based on the tournament’s importance — are automatically on the team. Captain Davis Love III (a Charlotte native) then selected six additional team members.
Why won’t I see any of my favorite European players?
The Presidents Cup was created as the sport’s popularity exploded globally. The Ryder Cup is a similar competition between the United States and golfers from Europe, so for this event, the International Team is made up of players excluding those from Europe.
Who has won the most Presidents Cups?
In the 13 previous tournaments, the United States has won 11. The International Team has won once (in 1998), and the teams tied in 2003.
They can tie?
Yep. In the event of a tie, the teams share the trophy.
What company is Quail Hollow in? Who else has hosted?
Quail Hollow Club will be the fifth United States venue to host the Presidents Cup, joining Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Prince William County, Virginia (1994, 1996, 2000, 2005); TPC Harding Park in San Francisco (2009, 2025); Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio (2013); and Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey (2017). Medinah Country Club in Chicago will host the 2026 Presidents Cup and Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis will host in 2030 Presidents Cup.
Internationally, Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia has hosted three times. The event has also been played overseas at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club in George, South Africa (2003); Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada (2007); and Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea (2015). Royal Montreal will again serve as host of the 2024 Presidents Cup.
OK, this is all well and good. Now, how can I watch this in person?
Limited general admission tickets are still available for the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. Parking and accommodations will vary, but the event’s website does a good job of laying out multiple options for potential onlookers.
There are multiple options for public transportation, ride shares, or park and rides, and all come with their own price tag. For more detailed information on available options, visit the event’s website.
Can I take selfies if I go? Or, maybe pictures of the golfers?
Some golf tournaments restrict the use of mobile devices on the grounds, but this event will allow you to bring your phone or PDA (remember those?), with a few caveats:
Your device must be kept on silent, and the use of a flash (or flashlight) is not permitted.
You may capture video or photos, but only for personal use.
No live streaming allowed.
Texting is OK. Phone calls are not, unless in designated areas.
So, what’s the schedule?
The first day the course is open to spectators is Tuesday, Sept. 20, when many of the golfers are expected to arrive at the grounds and play a practice round or two as they prepare for the tournament. Gates open on Tuesday at 8 a.m., and on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m.
The first day of competition is Thursday, Sept. 22. Gates open at 10 a.m., with tee times slated for 1:05 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 23, gates are scheduled to open at 9 a.m., competition begins at 11:35 a.m.
Things get busy on Saturday, Sept. 24. Round 3 of action starts at 7:12 a.m. after gates open at 6:30 a.m. Round 4 is slated for 12:05 p.m.
On Sunday, Sept. 25, the singles matches are scheduled to begin at 12:02 p.m.. Gates will open at 9 a.m.
I’m a couch potato, and I hate traffic. Can I watch the Presidents Cup on TV?
You can, but there’s nothing like being there in person.
Rounds 1 and 2 will be on GOLF Channel. Thursday coverage is scheduled from 1-6 p.m., and from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday.
On Saturday, GOLF Channel starts things off in the morning from 7-8 a.m., and NBC picks things up from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
On Sunday, NBC has coverage of the singles matches from 12-6 p.m.
The caveat here, of course, is that things are subject to change, depending on the weather and other variables.
This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 5:55 AM with the headline "What you need to know about the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte."
