Tiger Woods’ decision to stay out of the 2026 Presidents Cup has not stopped his name from surfacing in the buildup to the event. Kevin Kisner shared a story about Woods’ leadership during the 2017 Presidents Cup on the “Fore Play” podcast. Woods was then a captain’s assistant for the U.S. team, which had built a commanding lead over the International side. Kisner recalled that Woods urged the Americans to concede a putt on Saturday, leaving the outcome unsettled until Sunday.
Kisner said the move frustrated some of the players, who felt they had already done enough to secure the Cup. Woods’ reasoning, as Kisner recounted it, was that the teams would have to play the final day regardless, so keeping the contest alive gave the broadcast and fans more to follow. The United States ultimately won the 2017 competition at Liberty National.
The anecdote offers a glimpse of Woods’ instincts in a team setting: he was thinking about the event as a whole, even when that meant overriding players eager to close out the contest. Woods later served as the U.S. playing captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup, where his team defeated the International side in Melbourne.
The 2026 Presidents Cup begins Thursday, September 24, at Medinah Country Club near Chicago, with the final matches scheduled for Sunday, September 27. Woods is not part of the competition this week. 
Official Presidents Cup schedule
With Woods absent, attention turns to the current U.S. and International rosters. The Presidents Cup returns to match play, where partnerships and momentum can quickly shape the standings. Kisner’s story is a reminder that Woods’ influence on the event has extended beyond his own shots—and that his decisions as a team leader could be as consequential as his play.
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