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
The United States Team bags at the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Scottie Scheffler – USA
Scottie Scheffler chips onto the ninth green during the final round of the 2022 Tour Championship. (Photo: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 1
Tour titles: 4 (including 2022 Masters)
Team appearances: 2021 Ryder Cup
Nelly Korda – USA
Nelly Korda smiles on the 18th hole during the second round of the 2021 Pelican Women’s Championship at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 2
Tour titles: 7 (including 2021 KPMG Women’s PGA)
Team appearances: 2021, 2019 Solheim Cup
Patrick Cantlay – USA
Patrick Cantlay waves to fans as he walks off the course after winning the BMW Championship golf tournament. (Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 4
Tour titles: 8
Team appearances: 2019 Presidents Cup, 2021 Ryder Cup
Xander Schauffele – USA
Xander Schauffele walks off the 18th green during the first round of the 2022 Tour Championship. (Photo: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 5
Tour titles: 7
Team appearances: 2021 Ryder Cup, 2019 Presidents Cup
Justin Thomas – USA
Justin Thomas plays his shot from the third tee during the first round of the 2022 BMW Championship. (Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 7
Tour titles: 14 (including 2017 and 2022 PGA)
Team appearances: 2021, 2018 Ryder Cup
2017, 2019 Presidents Cup
Lexi Thompson – USA
Lexi Thompson looks on during the second round of the 2022 AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield in Scotland. (Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
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
Jennifer Kupcho celebrates with The Dinah Shore Trophy after winning the 2022 Chevron Championship at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. (Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 11
Tour titles: 3 (including 2022 Chevron)
Team appearances: 2021 Solheim Cup
Sam Burns – USA
Sams Burns toasts to his victory following the final round of the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge. (Photo: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 12
Tour titles: 4
Jessica Korda – USA
Jessica Korda walks to the fairway after playing her tee shot on the 1st hole during Day Two of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield on August 05, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 13
Tour titles: 6
Team appearances: Solheim Cup 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021
International Crown 2018
Tony Finau – USA
Tony Finau reacts on the 14th green during Saturday four-ball matches on day three of the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course on December 14, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
OWGR: 14
Tour titles: 4
Team appearances: 2018, 2021 Ryder Cup
2019 Presidents Cup
Danielle Kang – USA
Danielle Kang reacts after playing her shot from the 16th tee during a pro-am prior to the 2022 HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 21
Tour titles: 6 (including 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA)
Team appearances: Solheim Cup 2019, 2021
Megan Khang – USA
Megan Khang of Team USA reacts to her putt on the second green at the 2019 Solheim Cup at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)
Rolex Ranking: 26
Tour titles: 0
Team appearances: Solheim Cup 2019, 2021
Team International
An International Team golf bag prior to the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Jin Young Ko – South Korea
Jin Young Ko of South Korea talks to the media during a press conference prior to the 2022 AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield in Scotland. (Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 1
Tour titles: 13 (including 2019 Chevron and 2019 Evian)
Minjee Lee – Australia
Minjee Lee on the fifth hole during Day One of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield on August 4, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 3
Tour titles: 8 (including 2022 USWO, 2021 Evian)
Team appearances: International Crown 2014, 2016, 2018
Lydia Ko – New Zealand
Lydia Ko looks on prior to the 2022 Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 4
Tour titles: 16 (including 2016 Chevron and 2015 Evian)
Atthaya Thitikul – Thailand
Atthaya Thitikul reacts on the final hole on the last day of the 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand at the Siam Country Club. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 5
Tour titles: 1
Brooke Henderson – Canada
Brooke Henderson plays her tee shot on the 12th hole during Day Two of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield on August 05, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Rolex Ranking: 6
Tour titles: 12 (including 2022 Evian and 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA)
In Gee Chun – South Korea
In Gee Chun of South Korea looks on as she walks off the ninth green during the first round of the 2022 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
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
Hideki Matsuyama tees of on the 10th hole during the first round of the 2022 3M Open. (Photo: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 17
Tour titles: 8 (including 2021 Masters)
Team appearances: Presidents Cup 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
Sungjae Im – South Korea
Sungjae Im drives on the second hole during the final round of the 2022 3M Open. (Photo: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 19
Tour titles: 2
Team appearances: Presidents Cup 2019
Tom Kim – South Korea
Caddie Jacob Fleck congratulates Joohyung “Tom” Kim after winning the 2022 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo: Cal Sport Media via ZUMA Press Wire/AP Images)
OWGR: 22
Tour titles: 1
Corey Conners – Canada
Corey Conners walks to the putting green at the practice facility during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/The Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Network)
OWGR: 26
Tour titles: 1
Adam Scott – Australia
Adam Scott lines up a putt on the third green during the second round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 30
Tour titles: 14 (including 2013 Masters)
Team appearances: Presidents Cup (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Mito Pereira – Chile
Mito Pereira chips on to the third green during the final round of the 2022 PGA Championship . (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
OWGR: 49
Tour titles: 0
