Team USA stormed back to win the Presidents Cup, but another ugly showing in foursomes raises major concerns ahead of the 2027 Ryder Cup.
Team USA won the 2026 Presidents Cup, but anyone looking only at the 17-13 final score is missing the uncomfortable part of the story.
The Americans were spectacular in Sunday singles at Medinah Country Club, crushing the International Team 9.5-2.5 to erase a 10.5-7.5 deficit and secure an 11th consecutive Presidents Cup victory.
That comeback was impressive.
It also covered up a problem that keeps following the United States into international team golf.
The Americans were swept 5-0 in Friday foursomes, surrendering a 3-2 lead and suddenly finding themselves down 7-3. They eventually split Saturday afternoon foursomes 2-2, but the broader trend remains ugly.
Across recent Presidents Cups and Ryder Cups, alternate-shot golf has repeatedly become Team USA's weak spot.
That matters because Sunday singles won't always be available to clean up the mess.
Captain Brandt Snedeker admitted afterward that he finally felt comfortable with his lineup decisions on Sunday.
That's encouraging honesty, but getting the formula right in the fifth and final session isn't exactly the blueprint the Americans want to carry into Ireland next year.
There were plenty of positives.
Scottie Scheffler finished 3-1-0 and showed signs of becoming more comfortable in the emotionally charged team format.
Twenty-one-year-old Jackson Koivun went 2-0-1 in his Presidents Cup debut and delivered a huge singles victory over Si Woo Kim.
Chris Gotterup also impressed, giving the Americans another young option moving forward.
But the biggest takeaway shouldn't be the trophy.
It's that Team USA continues to look considerably more comfortable when 12 players are simply asked to go play their own ball.
That's a dangerous dependency with the 2027 Ryder Cup looming at Adare Manor in Ireland, where Europe will be seeking a third straight Ryder Cup victory.
Jim Furyk, who will captain the United States in 2027, has already begun changing the American approach.
And he'll need to.
Snedeker declared afterward that, “This team is going to be a problem in Ireland.”
Maybe.
But before Team USA becomes Europe's problem, it has to solve its own. Because relying on another historic Sunday comeback isn't a strategy.
