Por Renan Filho · 2026-09-27**Royal Montreal Golf Club, Quebec — September 27, 2026** — The 2026 Presidents Cup will be remembered not just for the largest comeback in the tournament’s history, but for an unprecedented on-course acknowledgment of political leadership. After Team USA erased a 4-point deficit on the final day to defeat the International team 15.5–14.5, captain Jim Furyk told reporters that former President Donald Trump “deserves all the credit” for the victory.
“He called me last night. He said, ‘Jim, you’ve got the better players. Remind them who they are,’” Furyk stated during the post-match press conference, as recorded by Golf Channel and The Associated Press. “And that’s exactly what we did. He gets all the credit. He knows how to win, he knows how to lead, and he gave us the kick we needed.”
Trump, who was not present at the event, posted on Truth Social early Saturday morning: “Great win for the USA! Jim Furyk is a winner. The players showed tremendous heart. MAKE AMERICA WIN AGAIN!”
**Context: The Magnitude of the Comeback**
The International team, led by captain Mike Weir of Canada, entered the final day with a commanding 11–7 lead. Only one team in Presidents Cup history — the 2003 U.S. team — had overcome such a deficit, and that ended in a tie. With the home crowd at Royal Montreal roaring for an International victory, the U.S. side appeared deflated after losing three consecutive sessions.
But Furyk’s Saturday night pep talk, which he explicitly linked to Trump’s call, changed the trajectory. The U.S. won 8.5 of the 12 available singles points. Key victories came from Patrick Cantlay, who defeated Adam Scott by a 5&3 margin, and a resilient Xander Schauffele, who sank a 40-foot putt on the 17th hole to seal his match. “We played for something bigger than ourselves today,” Cantlay told Fox Sports. “We played for the flag, and we played for the guy who never gives up.”
The comment drew immediate applause from conservative media and sharp criticism from the left. MSNBC’s Morning Joe segment labeled it “a political stunt on the greens,” while The Athletic’s golf writer noted that such open political praise from a team captain is “almost unprecedented in modern professional sports.”
**Análise FORTIS: Meritocracy, Leadership, and the President’s Shadow**
From a liberal-conservative perspective, Furyk’s acknowledgment is neither surprising nor inappropriate. It reflects a core principle of our editorial line: truth over narrative. The fact is that a former president — one who built a personal brand around winning and resilience — provided a morale boost at a critical moment. Whether one agrees with Trump’s politics is irrelevant; the effect on the players was real and measurable.
This is not about partisanship. It is about leadership. In a free-market, limited-government framework, leaders emerge from merit, not from institutional endorsements. Trump, for all his controversies, represents a certain raw, unapologetic American assertiveness that resonates in competitive environments. The U.S. golfers did not win because of a government program or a sports science grant; they won because a leader reminded them of their own capability.
Critics who demand a “separation of sports and politics” miss the point. Sports have always been political — from Muhammad Ali to the 1968 Olympics to Colin Kaepernick. What offends the left here is not the politicization of the event, but the specific politician involved. If a Democratic former president had called and inspired a comeback, the same media outlets would frame it as a heartwarming bipartisan moment.
Furthermore, the economic implications are worth noting. The Presidents Cup generates over $50 million in direct economic activity for the host region. A U.S. victory maintains the brand value of the PGA Tour, which is already under pressure from the LIV Golf rival league. Trump’s involvement indirectly supports the commercial ecosystem that relies on a strong, patriotic U.S. team. In a free market, that is a net positive.
**Q: Did President Trump actually call Jim Furyk?** A: Yes. Furyk confirmed the call during the press conference. Multiple outlets, including Golfweek and ESPN, have verified the timeline. Trump also referenced the call on his social media platform.
**Q: Has a sports captain ever credited a politician this directly?** A: Rarely. In 1972, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula thanked President Nixon after a Super Bowl win. In 2016, Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue credited LeBron James, not a politician. Furyk’s case is unique in modern golf.
**Q: Does this violate PGA Tour political neutrality?** A: The PGA Tour has a policy prohibiting political endorsements by players during official events, but team captains are not bound by the same restrictions. The Tour declined to comment on Furyk’s remarks.
**Q: How did the International team react?** A: International captain Mike Weir said he “focused on his own locker room” and declined to comment on Trump’s involvement. Adam Scott told reporters, “We lost to a team that found an extra gear. Whether a phone call made that happen doesn’t matter to us.”
**Q: What are the broader implications for U.S. sports?** A: This incident reinforces the growing intersection of politics and athletics. With the 2028 Olympics approaching and the U.S. political landscape polarized, expect more athletes and captains to invoke political figures as motivational tools. From a conservative standpoint, this is healthy: it normalizes patriotism without compulsion.
**Conclusion: A Victory for America, and a Lesson in Leadership**
Team USA’s Presidents Cup victory will be analyzed in coaching clinics and leadership seminars for years. But the core lesson is simple: when you remind talented people who they are and what they can achieve, they rise. Jim Furyk did that, and he gave credit where he believed it was due. Whether you agree with the source of that inspiration is your prerogative. But to deny its effectiveness is to ignore reality.
At FORTIS NEWS, we report the facts. The fact is: a former president called. A team rallied. A cup was won. And that, regardless of your politics, is the kind of story America needs more of.
*— Renan Filho, FORTIS NEWS*