Amidst the chaos and drama of Tiger Woods’ comeback at the 2022 Masters, reports have emerged that the Presidents Cup will be returning to Melbourne in 2028.
Australian Golf Digest understands that contracts to bring the biennial showpiece event back Down Under have been signed, with an announcement expected to be made in the coming weeks.
It follows earlier reports that negotiations between the PGA Tour, which runs the Presidents Cup, and the Victorian government were “ongoing and positive”.
Australian Golf Digest’s Evin Priest confirmed the latest developments on the grounds of Augusta National Friday morning, tweeting he had been informed by a source that Melbourne was the chosen venue, and that a formal announcement on the host nation was imminent.
While no course has been locked in, Royal Melbourne looks the most likely venue to welcome back the world’s best players. However, Kingston Heath and the new-look Peninsula Kingswood are tipped to throw their hat in the ring.
The Presidents Cup sees 12 professional golfers from outside Europe take on an American side and the showpiece garnered global attention in 2019, when Tiger Woods captained the Americans to victory at Royal Melbourne.
The Cup will be held on US soil this year, in September, at North Carolina’s Quail Hollow Club, before heading to Canada for the 2024 edition at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
In 2026, the Cup will head to Chicago’s famous Medinah Country Club, and by then the course will have been renovated by Australian architect firm Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead.
The other confirmed date is 2030, when the Cup will be held at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis, Missouri.
The Presidents Cup was staged at Royal Melbourne in 1998, 2011 and 2019. The International team’s only victory in the 28-year history of the event came at Royal Melbourne in 1998.
