Matt Kuchar, C.T. Pan to lead event’s fifth edition at Medinah Country Club’s Courses #1 and #2
CHICAGO – Today, the Presidents Cup and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) announced that the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup will feature the United States’ Matt Kuchar and Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan as captains of the U.S. and International Teams, respectively. The event will be contested on a special routing of Courses #1 and #2 at Medinah Country Club, Sunday, Sept. 20 and Monday, Sept. 21. The 2026 Presidents Cup will tee off two days later on Medinah’s Course #3.
The Junior Presidents Cup is a two-day, team match-play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top junior boys 19 years old and younger – 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe – that takes place just days before the start of the biennial Presidents Cup. The Junior Presidents Cup was developed to give the world’s best non-European juniors a unique playing opportunity to compete in an international team match-play competition and showcase the global reach of junior golf.
“The Junior Presidents Cup has become a treasured tradition of Presidents Cup week and we’re thrilled to continue building that legacy at Medinah Country Club,” said 2026 Executive Director Joie Chitwood. “With Matt Kuchar and C.T. Pan leading two talented teams, this competition offers a glimpse of the future stars that could one day shine on golf’s biggest stages. We look forward to showcasing Courses #1 and #2, setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable Presidents Cup.”
The teams will compete in six Four-ball and Foursomes matches on Sunday, Sept. 20, followed by 12 Singles matches on Monday, Sept. 21.
“C.T. Pan and Matt Kuchar embody everything the Junior Presidents Cup stands for,” AJGA Executive Director, Stephen Hamblin said. “Their competitive excellence, integrity and commitment to developing young players make them outstanding leaders for this event. Partnering with the PGA TOUR to bring this competition to life at Medinah’s Course #1 and Course #2 creates an unforgettable stage for the world’s best juniors. We believe their leadership, combined with such an iconic venue, will be an incredible showcase of junior golf to the world.”
Matt Kuchar brings veteran leadership and a decorated career to his role as U.S. Team captain. A nine-time PGA TOUR winner, Kuchar has represented the United States in multiple team competitions, including five Presidents Cups (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019) where he holds a record of 6-9-4. In addition to the Presidents Cup, the 47-year-old has competed in four Ryder Cups (2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016) and served as a vice captain under Captain Jim Furyk in 2018. Kuchar also earned a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, further cementing his reputation as a world-class competitor. As a junior golfer, Kuchar played in 13 AJGA tournaments. He was named a Rolex Junior All-American in 1994 and 1995 with a total of five top-3 finishes in his junior golf career. Recently Kuchar’s son Cameron has seen success in AJGA events. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was named a Rolex Junior All-American in 2025.
“It’s an incredible honor to lead the U.S. Team at the Junior Presidents Cup,” said Kuchar. “This event showcases the best junior golfers in the game and I’m excited to help these players experience the spirit of team competition at a historic venue like Medinah. It’s going to be a memorable week for all of us.”
C.T. Pan brings a wealth of international experience to his role as captain of the International Team. A three-time Olympian for Chinese Taipei, Pan competed in Rio (2016), Tokyo (2020), where he captured the bronze medal, and Paris (2024). He was a standout performer at the 2019 Presidents Cup, posting a 2-1-0 record and thrilling fans alongside Hideki Matsuyama with back-to-back Four-ball victories over the U.S. duo of Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed at Royal Melbourne. Pan’s success extends to the PGA TOUR, highlighted by his maiden win at the RBC Heritage in 2019. Pan was also a successful junior golfer, playing in ten AJGA tournaments. He was a Rolex Junior All-American in 2009 and had seven top-10 finishes. In 2019 he began giving back with the AJGA through hosting events. Since then, he has hosted seven AJGA tournaments domestically and supported the AJGA’s International Pathway Series.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be named captain of the International Team for the Junior Presidents Cup,” said Pan. “When you are called to represent your team and your country, it’s always a special experience and I know first-hand that this event will give these junior golfers one of their first chances to compete on a global stage. I am thrilled to lead them through this opportunity at Medinah Country Club.”
Originally crafted in 1925 by renowned golf course architect Tom Bendelow, Medinah’s Course No. 1 has a rich tournament heritage, having hosted the inaugural Medinah Open (1930), along with both a Western Open and a Chicago Open. Reimagined in 2014 by acclaimed architect Tom Doak, the course now features generous, inviting fairways paired with thoughtfully contoured, challenging greens. Today, Course No. 1 offers an exceptional walking experience and remains a favorite for members. In 1927 Bendelow designed, Medinah’s Course No. 2. It was thoughtfully restored in 2017 to honor Bendelow’s classic vision while incorporating important modern infrastructure upgrades. Designed with playability and enjoyment in mind, the course features multiple sets of tees that make it welcoming for families, beginners, and seasoned players alike.
“It is an honor for Medinah Country Club to host the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup,” said Vaughn Moore, Medinah Country Club President. “This will be a historic event as it will be the first time in the United States that a Jr. Presidents Cup will be hosted at the same property as the PGA TOUR’s Presidents Cup.”
The U.S. Team defeated the International Team by a score of 15-9 in the fourth edition of the Junior Presidents Cup in 2024 at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac in Montréal, Québec, Canada, where Charley Hoffman led the U.S. Team with a dominant showing in Singles against Canada’s Graham DeLaet and the International Team.
Of the players who have competed in the Junior Presidents Cup since its inception in 2017, nine will have exempt status on the PGA TOUR in 2026: Akshay Bhatia (2017), Jacob Bridgeman (2017), Garrick Higgo (2017), Joe Highsmith (2017), Christo Lamprecht (2017, 2019), William Mouw (2017), Aldrich Potgieter (2022), Michael Thorbjornsen (2019), Karl Vilips (2017, 2019). Auburn junior Jackson Koivun (2022) has already earned his TOUR card through PGA TOUR University Accelerated and can accept membership following the 2026 NCAA Championship.
Junior Presidents Cup Eligibility
Teams will consist of the top 24 junior boys from the United States and around the world, excluding Europe, split up into teams of 12. Participants for both teams must be at least 12 years old by the start of the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup and cannot have, as of January 1, 2026, either (i) reached their 19th birthday or (ii) graduated high school.*
Additionally, participants must be amateurs who have not yet started college and are not members of a competitive collegiate golf program in order to be eligible to play in the Junior Presidents Cup.
*Players graduating in the final four months (Sept. – Dec.) of the year will be considered part of the following year’s graduating class.
U.S. Team Eligibility Criteria
- On August 6, 2026, the leading 10 qualified players based on the Rolex AJGA Rankings will be selected along with the 11th player, who will be selected by the U.S. Team Captain.
- The 12th and final spot will be awarded to the leading player based on the Rolex AJGA Rankings as of September 10, 2026, who is not otherwise qualified.
- In the event of a tie, the selection will be decided by the individual ranked highest on the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) list at that time.
- For the August 6, 2026, selection date, the 52-week rankings window will include ranked events with an end date of August 5, 2025 – August 3, 2026, while the September 10, 2026, selection date 52-week rankings window will include ranked events with an end date of September 9, 2025 – September 7, 2026.
- Each U.S. Team participant must also be a citizen of the United States and must be a current AJGA member in good standing.
International Team Eligibility Criteria
- On June 4, 2026, the leading 10 qualified players based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) will be selected along with the 11th player, who will be selected by the International Team Captain.
- The 12th and final spot will be awarded to the leading player on the WAGR™ list as of July 30, 2026, who is not otherwise qualified.
- In the event of a tie, the selection will be decided by the individual ranked highest on the most recent previous World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) revision.
- Each International Team participant must be a citizen of an eligible international Presidents Cup country (excludes European Ryder Cup countries).
- To be eligible to appear on the International Team standings, players MUST have their birthdate on file with WAGR™. Once a WAGR™ Ranking is established, submit the WAGR™ Player Submission Form. AJGA Nationality Policy
About the Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup is a biennial global team competition between the United States and an International team that represents the rest of the world excluding Europe. The competition, which is contested by the PGA TOUR, alternates between venues in the U.S. and overseas. The next iteration of the Presidents Cup will take place in Chicago at Medinah Country Club’s Course #3, September 22-27, 2026. Since the event’s inception in 1994, more than $56 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup. Rolex is the exclusive Global Partner of the Presidents Cup. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram, or visit PresidentsCup.com for more information.
About the AJGA
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-19) of more than 10,000 members from 50 states and 50 foreign countries. Through initiatives like the Liberty National ACE Grant, a financial assistance program, and Leadership Links, a service-oriented platform that teaches juniors charitable-giving skills, the AJGA fosters the growth of golf’s next generation.
TaylorMade and adidas are the AJGA’s Global Sponsors, supporting the AJGA for more than 25 years.
TaylorMade has served as the Official Ball of the AJGA since 2016. adidas has been the Official Apparel and Footwear of the AJGA since 2017. Rolex, in its fourth decade of AJGA sponsorship, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.
AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 1,000 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, Paula Creamer, Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Cristie Kerr, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang.
About Rolex
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise. Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Perpetual watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.
The word ‘Perpetual’ is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 600 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components. A fifth site, also in Switzerland, is under construction and is expected to open in 2029. Rolex carries out its own manufacturing operations, from casting the gold alloys to machining, crafting, assembling and finishing the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.