There is no shortage of motivation for the 24 golfers competing in the Presidents Cup. Representing their country, sharing the course with some of the biggest names in golf and chasing a prestigious team trophy all make the event special.
But with so many elite players gathered for one of golf’s biggest team competitions, another question naturally comes into focus: what do the players actually earn for taking part? The Presidents Cup differs from a standard PGA Tour event when it comes to player earnings. There is no prize purse, and the players are not paid simply for competing.
That charitable model sets the Presidents Cup apart from most professional golf tournaments. Rather than rewarding the players with a conventional tournament purse, the event channels the money generated toward causes selected by the competitors. The eligibility structure also differs from the Ryder Cup . The Presidents Cup uses its own qualification system, with the U.S. team selecting six automatic qualifiers through a FedExCup-based points system and the International team using the Official World Golf Ranking for its six automatic spots.
Since its inaugural edition in 1994, the Presidents Cup has generated more than $56.4 million in proceeds. The funds have supported over 475 charities in 18 countries during the past 25 years, according to Golf Magic. The 2026 edition is scheduled for September 22-27 at Medinah Country Club in Illinois , with the competition once again bringing together 12-player U.S. and International teams.
