Story | Leslie Yip Boucher-Harris Photography | Rolex, Courtesy of the Presidents Cup
Every two years, the Presidents Cup brings together 24 of the world’s top golfers, with a team from the United States competing against an International team, (excluding Europe). This event is inspired by the Ryder Cup format and focuses on team play under match conditions.
The 2024 tournament took place Sept. 24-29 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club.(photo: J. D. Cuban)
The 2024 tournament took place Sept. 24-29 at The Royal Montreal Golf Club, the oldest continuously operating golf club in North America. Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023, the club earned its royal designation in 1884 with permission granted by Queen Victoria. Its rich history and eminent status made it a fitting venue for this prestigious international golf event. In fact, this is the second time this club has hosted the event, the first being in 2007.
The U.S. team was led by captain Jim Furyk, while the International team was captained by Canada’s very own Mike Weir, who had a memorable victory over Tiger Woods at the 2007 Presidents Cup on this very course.
The revered trophy on display inside a Rolex hospitality suite on opening day. Rolex has an affinity with human achievement that dates back to the origins of the company and supports golf in its quest to unite and inspire.
Countries represented on the International team this year were Canada, South Korea, Japan, Australia and South Africa. No prize money is awarded. Net proceeds are distributed to charities chosen by the players, captains, and assistant captains. Since its inception, the tournament has raised over US$32 million for charitable organizations globally.
The 2024 edition continued this tradition, benefiting a range of causes, including First Tee Canada, the Montreal Children’s
Hospital Foundation, and other local and international charities. This reflects the event’s commitment to not only showcase elite golf, but also make a positive impact on communities worldwide.
eliteGen was honoured to be invited to the Presidents Cup by Rolex, which is celebrating its nearly 60-year dedication to the sport. The brand has a long history of partnerships and sponsorships across diverse fields, including art, culture, tennis, sailing, equestrian, and motorsports—each discipline requiring precision and endurance. The connection between Rolex and golf began in 1967 with Arnold Palmer becoming a Rolex Testimonee. Today, Rolex is deeply integrated into the global golf community, associating with the top professional tours, tournaments, and leading figures in both men’s and women’s golf, solidifying its prestige in the sport.
Rolex’ affiliation with golf began in 1967 when Arnold Palmer became the game’s first Rolex Testimonee. He was joined by close friends and fellow members of The Big Three, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Since then, Rolex has continued to strengthen those bonds, extending its support to every level of the game, including elite and amateur players, and all the major championships and professional tours around the world.
As a global partner of the tournament, its presence could be seen all over the venue, including the iconic clocks dotted around the course. There were also not one but two hospitality suites offering its guests prime views of the action. While we were there, we met the Junior Presidents Cup teams, who were very excited to watch the players on their practice rounds. It was also at one of the suites that we met with Ryan Hart, executive director of the 2024 Presidents Cup, one day before the tournament opened.
The US Team with the Trophy after winning the 2024 Presidents Cup. (photo: Chris Turvey)
Hart has a wealth of experience in sports management, having previously worked with the PGA Tour, and was tournament director at the 2020 Players Championship in Florida. His role at the Presidents Cup included overseeing the event’s operations, logistics, and success at the Royal Montreal Golf Club, and co-ordinating with teams and sponsors to ensure
a seamless execution of the tournament.
Native Canadian Ryan Hart is the executive director of the Presidents Cup 2024. This is his third Presidents Cup.
It was a privilege to speak with the Winnipeg native before the tournament got underway about the behind-the-scenes stories, especially given his deep understanding of how such a prestigious global event comes together.
Q: How long does it take to prepare a Presidents Cup?
RH: We made the announcement in August 2020, and came here for the first time formally in September 2020. There was a short window where we could travel again during the Covid-19 pandemic, so we came for a meeting in the fall of 2020 before everything locked down again. I started coming to Montreal every other week from April 2021, all the way through to April 2024. Then I moved here full-time.
It was a privilege to speak with the Winnipeg native before the tournament got underway about the behind-the-scenes stories
We started building on the property on Oct. 3, 2023 as we were trying to get ahead of the winter. With the spring around here, you never really know how long melt is going to be and how soft the ground is going to be. We wanted to really get ahead of it as much as we could last year to put us in a good position to get things going this year.
Time went very quickly. It feels like yesterday that we came here for the first time. With Chicago being the next one, we have already had someone there last June, planning ticket sales and the launch. It’s important that as the event grows and gets bigger, you have a long runway and lead-up.
Q: As a proud Canadian, how excited are you for the tournament to return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club?
RH: From the Canadian perspective, I am Canadian, and when the opportunity came up to do this, it’s one of those you just don’t say no to. But I’m extremely proud. It is really one of the biggest footprints for the Presidents Cup from a fan perspective. I think Montreal and its passionate sports fans were really one of the reasons that we came back.
Divots on the range left by Tony Finau of the American team and Corey Conners, one of four Canadians on the International team.
If you look at the cultural makeup of Montreal, and the makeup of the International team, in many ways, it’s tailor-made. You’ve got this diverse culture, that’s full of festivals, food, fashion and so on. Our focus was therefore on how best to bring that to the golf course? It’s a great place to be and I couldn’t be more proud to be here.
Q: How important is the support of long-term partners like Rolex?
RH: We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the support of partners like Rolex. I think their brand, as an extension of what we can do, helps bring environments like this to the golf course. We just don’t have that chance without them. When you look at the brands like Rolex partnering with us, I think it really helps to elevate the event.
You think about what you see on this property. We’ve got a little over 600,000 square feet of floor space built on a golf course, and we really want to do as much as we can to elevate the experience for the fans. Whether you walk around the grounds, whether you have hospitality, or whether you’re in a private suite like this, partners like Rolex help to elevate that experience.
Rolex Testimonee Hideki Matsuyama from Japan lines up a putt at the 2024 Presidents Cup. As part of Perpetual Excellence, the brand seeks partnerships with individuals and organizations from the world of sport, who set the highest standards of performance. (photo: J. D. Cuban)
Q: The Presidents Cup is chaired by the head of state of the host nation. Do you get to interact with the honorary chairman for the event?
RH: Absolutely, we’ve been really fortunate. My first working Presidents Cup was 2017 and we had former U.S. presidents George Bush, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton on the tee box; and then on the Sunday, Donald Trump presented the trophy. I think it was the first time we had four presidents at the event at one time. It was fascinating.
We could put all politics aside, but when you experience the background of what these people go through in their day-to-day lives, the bubble in which they live, to see that up close is a little bit eye-opening. That year in 2017, there were probably 250 Secret Service agents in and around the property. Everything that went into it and the preparation overnight to just get the place as safe as it possibly could be was pretty wild. But they’ve all always been very polite and nice.
(Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later presented the trophy at this year’s event to the winning US team.)
Q: With Rolex Testimonee Adam Scott set to make his 11th appearance, is there anyone else in particular in the field that you’re most looking forward to seeing in action?
RH: I’ve been an Adam Scott fan my whole life. I don’t know how you can watch that swing and not just want to put it on repeat! With Adam, it’s also the way he holds himself. He’s a little bit younger than me, so when you see him being that elder statesman on the team, it makes me feel old!
Rolex Testimonee Adam Scott hitting a tee shot. Rolex has been a committed partner of golf for almost 60 years and in that time has contributed to the game’s development around the world. Some of the world-class event sponsorships include Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and top team events, including the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and Presidents Cup. They also extend their support to junior and amateur ranks where emerging talent is nurtured and developed as part of its perpetual values, ensuring the continuity of expertise and knowledge. (photo: J. D. Cuban)
The evolution of the International team and the diversity of relationships in there is evident to see. You’ve got a young firecracker like Tom Kim, and then Adam Scott on the other end being that veteran, and everything in between from an age and demographic perspective. Min Woo Lee would probably be the best on social media on the team if we were to look down the list.
I think you get to see the personality of some of the Koreans a little bit more in a Presidents Cup. Looking at Si-woo Kim and Sungjae Im on a week-in, week-out basis, they can be fairly reserved. But if you get them in a Presidents Cup environment, they’re hilarious and they’re practical jokers, but they also show their emotion like no other. I think that’s the pride of having your country indirectly on your chest through the shield. It’s fun to watch.
