Pan to Lead International Team at Junior Presidents Cup

Chicago, United States: The Presidents Cup and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) have announced that the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup will feature CT Pan and Matt Kuchar as captains of the International and US teams, respectively. 

The event will be contested on a special routing of Courses #1 and #2 at Medinah Country Club on September 20-21. The 2026 Presidents Cup will tee off two days later on Medinah’s Course #3. 

The Junior Presidents Cup is a two-day, team match play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top junior boys, 19 years old and younger – 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe – that takes place just days before the start of the biennial Presidents Cup.

The Junior Presidents Cup was developed to give the world’s best non-European juniors a unique playing opportunity to compete in an international team match play competition and showcase the global reach of junior golf.

“The Junior Presidents Cup has become a treasured tradition of Presidents Cup week and we’re thrilled to continue building that legacy at Medinah Country Club,” said 2026 Executive Director Joie Chitwood. “With Matt Kuchar and CT Pan leading two talented teams, this competition offers a glimpse of the future stars that could one day shine on golf’s biggest stages. We look forward to showcasing Courses #1 and #2, setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable Presidents Cup.”

The teams will compete in six four-ball and foursomes matches on September 20, followed by 12 singles matches on September 21.

AJGA Executive Director Stephen Hamblin said: “CT Pan and Matt Kuchar embody everything the Junior Presidents Cup stands for. Their competitive excellence, integrity and commitment to developing young players make them outstanding leaders for this event. Partnering with the PGA Tour to bring this competition to life at Medinah’s Course #1 and Course #2 creates an unforgettable stage for the world’s best juniors. We believe their leadership, combined with such an iconic venue, will be an incredible showcase of junior golf to the world.”

Pan brings a wealth of international experience to his role as captain of the International Team. A three-time Olympian for Chinese Taipei, Pan competed in Rio (2016), Tokyo (2020), where he captured the bronze medal, and Paris (2024). He was a standout performer at the 2019 Presidents Cup, posting a 2-1-0 record and thrilling fans alongside Hideki Matsuyama with back-to-back four-ball victories over the US duo of Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed at Royal Melbourne.

Pan’s success extends to the PGA Tour, highlighted by his maiden win at the RBC Heritage in 2019. Pan was also a successful junior golfer, playing in 10 AJGA tournaments. He was a Rolex Junior All-American in 2009 and had seven top-10 finishes. In 2019 he began giving back with the AJGA through hosting events. Since then, he has hosted seven AJGA tournaments domestically and supported the AJGA’s International Pathway Series.

A three-time participant in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (2012-2014), Pan said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be named captain of the International Team for the Junior Presidents Cup. When you are called to represent your team and your country, it’s always a special experience and I know first-hand that this event will give these junior golfers one of their first chances to compete on a global stage. I am thrilled to lead them through this opportunity at Medinah Country Club.”

Kuchar brings veteran leadership and a decorated career to his role as US Team captain. A nine-time PGA Tour winner, Kuchar has represented the United States in multiple team competitions, including five Presidents Cups (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019) where he holds a record of 6-9-4. In addition to the Presidents Cup, the 47-year-old has competed in four Ryder Cups (2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016) and served as a vice captain under Jim Furyk in 2018. Kuchar also earned a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

As a junior golfer, Kuchar played in 13 AJGA tournaments. He was named a Rolex Junior All-American in 1994 and 1995 with a total of five top-three finishes in his junior golf career. Recently Kuchar’s son, Cameron, has seen success in AJGA events. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was named a Rolex Junior All-American in 2025.

Kuchar said: “It’s an incredible honour to lead the US Team at the Junior Presidents Cup. This event showcases the best junior golfers in the game and I’m excited to help these players experience the spirit of team competition at a historic venue like Medinah. It’s going to be a memorable week for all of us.”

The US Team defeated the International Team by a score of 15-9 in the fourth edition of the Junior Presidents Cup in 2024 at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac in Montréal, Québec, Canada, where Charley Hoffman led the U.S. Team with a dominant showing in Singles against Canada’s Graham DeLaet and the International Team.

The 12-strong International Team consisted of 10 players from the Asia-Pacific – Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Minh and Le Khanh Hung, Indonesian Rayan Abdul Latief, Indian Kartik Singh, New Zealand’s Joshua Bai, Thais Thanawin Lee and Warut Boonrod and the Chinese trio of Chang Xihuan, Gu Liangliang and Yu Hanjie.

Junior Presidents Cup Eligibility

Teams will consist of the top 24 junior boys from the US and around the world, excluding Europe, split into teams of 12. Participants for both teams must be at least 12 years old by the start of the 2026 Junior Presidents Cup and cannot have, as of January 1, 2026, either (i) reached their 19th birthday or (ii) graduated high school.*

Additionally, participants must be amateurs who have not yet started college and are not members of a competitive collegiate golf programme in order to be eligible to play in the Junior Presidents Cup.

*Players graduating in the final four months (September – December) of the year will be considered part of the following year’s graduating class.

International Team Eligibility Criteria

On June 4, 2026, the leading 10 qualified players based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) will be selected along with the 11th player, who will be selected by the International Team Captain.

The 12th and final spot will be awarded to the leading player on the WAGR list as of July 30, 2026, who is not otherwise qualified.

In the event of a tie, the selection will be decided by the individual ranked highest on the most recent previous WAGR revision.

Each International Team participant must be a citizen of an eligible international Presidents Cup country (excludes European Ryder Cup countries).

To be eligible to appear on the International Team standings, players must have their birthdate on file with WAGR.