Geoff Ogilvy is hopeful and confident the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will have aligned closely enough for him to consider picking Australian stars including Cameron Smith when he captains the International Team at the 2026 Presidents Cup.
Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champ, has been given the “humbling” role, filled in the past by some of the game’s greatest players, including Greg Norman, Ernie Els and Gary Player, who was the Australian’s first captain when he played in 2007, for next year’s event at Medinah.
While LIV players including Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau played Ryder Cup for team USA in 2023, and are in line for selection again this year, there was no LIV presence at last year’s Presidents Cup, an event run by the PGA Tour.
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But with “reunification” high on the agenda of PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Ogilvy said having the chance to pick the likes of Smith and Chilean star Joaquin Niemann, who has won three LIV events this year, would be a massive bonus.
“Absolutely, having Jaco and Cam and Herbie (Lucas Herbert) and Leish (Marc Leishman) to pick would be great for us,” Ogilvy said from the US after his role was confirmed.
“There’s a bit to play out and the two tours would obviously need to become more closely aligned.”
Ogilvy has a long history with the Presidents Cup having been part of seven teams dating back to 2007, three times as a player and the past four as a captain’s assistant, including at Royal Melbourne in 2019.
He conceded there was some “meandering” during the early 2000s as the US dominated the event, but a renaissance launched by former captain Ernie Els in 2019, and the emergence of the first generation of players who grew up wanting to be on the team, has created a new energy.
The “motivation” of Korean star Tom Kim and Australia’s own Min Woo Lee to topple the US could be one of the key elements to end the winning drought.
“It’s great to have those young personalities who are flamboyant and excited. Enthusiasm is contagious and the more enthusiasm you get inside the team the better,” Ogilvy said.
“It’s an important ingredient. Anytime you see any team win in any sport there’s usually a lot of enthusiasm behind that, whether the players are the catalyst or the coach or the captain.
“Everyone has to turn up, play well. You need things you go your way, the US team is always tough to beat.
“But our guys, every single time we do this, they are getting more and more motivated and they want to win it more and more.
“It’s coming. A win is coming.”
While the young crop of players loom large as the core of the team, Ogilvy said veteran Adam Scott, who has played on the past 11 teams, was also high in his plans.
“He’s still a very active player and highly focused on his golf. I’m hoping he’s playing,” he said.
Ogilvy said the prestige of the role he’d been given was not lost on him.
“Gary Player was my first captain, just an absolute legend of the sport,” he said.
“To even be considered, it’s very humbling and really exciting.”
The US team will be captained by Brandt Snedeker, who will get his eye in as vice-captain for this year’s Ryder Cup.
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The 16th Presidents Cup will be contested at Medinah Country Club’s Course No.3, a layout Ogilvy’s design firm OCM renovated more than two years before it was reopened in mid-2024.
But Ogilvy said that knowledge might not be much of a factor.
“These are the best players in the world and they work out a golf course pretty fast,” he said.
Ogilvy drew high praise from Monahan as well, labelled the “perfect captain” for the 2026 event.
“Geoff will capitalise on the upward trend of the International Team,” he said.
“With his pedigree as a major champion and experience in the team room, Geoff was primed to take on this role.”
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