There’s an awful lot of talk about growing the game. Slogans are created and commercials are made. And yet, for all those good wishes, there seems to be a rather obvious way to move the needle in a way that would benefit the game as a whole – add women to the Presidents Cup.
Not just for the good of the game. Do it for the good of the event, which has never been more lopsided. The International team has won only one time since the inaugural event in 1994. There have been a number of blowouts, and all signs point to a massive one taking place this week at Quail Hollow Club, especially after several strong players went to the LIV Golf Series.
Kevin Kisner is the lowest-ranked player on Team USA at No. 25, which is better than all but three players on the International squad.
What would happen if the PGA Tour opened this up to the LPGA?
Six of the top eight players in the Rolex Rankings would be on an International team of 12 that featured six men and six women. Additionally, as it currently stands, the six women on the International team would have 10 majors between them.
Here’s what this week could look like if some forward-thinking officials wanted to give fans a real treat (listed in order by world ranking):
Team USA
Scottie Scheffler – USA
OWGR: 1
Tour titles: 4 (including 2022 Masters)
Team appearances: 2021 Ryder Cup
Nelly Korda – USA
Rolex Ranking: 2
Tour titles: 7 (including 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA)
Team appearances: 2021, 2019 Solheim Cup
Patrick Cantlay – USA
OWGR: 4
Tour titles: 8
Team appearances: 2019 Presidents Cup, 2021 Ryder Cup
Xander Schauffele – USA
OWGR: 5
Tour titles: 7
Team appearances: 2021 Ryder Cup, 2019 Presidents Cup
Justin Thomas – USA
OWGR: 7
Tour titles: 14 (including 2017 and 2022 PGA)
Team appearances: 2021, 2018 Ryder Cup
2017, 2019 Presidents Cup
Lexi Thompson – USA
Rolex Ranking: 7
Tour titles: 11 (including 2014 Chevron)
Team appearances: Solheim Cup (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
International Crown (2014, 2016, 2018)
Jennifer Kupcho – USA
Rolex Ranking: 11
Tour titles: 3 (including 2022 Chevron)
Team appearances: 2021 Solheim Cup
Sam Burns – USA
OWGR: 12
Tour titles: 4
Jessica Korda – USA
Rolex Ranking: 13
Tour titles: 6
Team appearances: Solheim Cup 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021
International Crown 2018
Tony Finau – USA
OWGR: 14
Tour titles: 4
Team appearances: 2018, 2021 Ryder Cup
2019 Presidents Cup
Danielle Kang – USA
Rolex Ranking: 21
Tour titles: 6 (including 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA)
Team appearances: Solheim Cup 2019, 2021
Megan Khang – USA
Rolex Ranking: 26
Tour titles: 0
Team appearances: Solheim Cup 2019, 2021
Team International
Jin Young Ko – South Korea
Rolex Ranking: 1
Tour titles: 13 (including 2019 Chevron and 2019 Evian)
Minjee Lee – Australia
Rolex Ranking: 3
Tour titles: 8 (including 2022 USWO, 2021 Evian)
Team appearances: International Crown 2014, 2016, 2018
Lydia Ko – New Zealand
Rolex Ranking: 4
Tour titles: 16 (including 2016 Chevron and 2015 Evian)
Atthaya Thitikul – Thailand
Rolex Ranking: 5
Tour titles: 1
Brooke Henderson – Canada
Rolex Ranking: 6
Tour titles: 12 (including 2022 Evian and 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA)
In Gee Chun – South Korea
Rolex Ranking: 8
Tour titles: 4 (including 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA, 2016 Evian and 2015 USWO)
Team appearances: International Crown 2016, 2018
Hideki Matsuyama – Japan
OWGR: 17
Tour titles: 8 (including 2021 Masters)
Team appearances: Presidents Cup 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
Sungjae Im – South Korea
OWGR: 19
Tour titles: 2
Team appearances: Presidents Cup 2019
Tom Kim – South Korea
OWGR: 22
Tour titles: 1
Corey Conners – Canada
OWGR: 26
Tour titles: 1
Adam Scott – Australia
OWGR: 30
Tour titles: 14 (including 2013 Masters)
Team appearances: Presidents Cup (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Mito Pereira – Chile
OWGR: 49
Tour titles: 0