Canada's Pendrith named assistant captain of International Team at Presidents Cup

Canadian Taylor Pendrith has been named one of the assistant captains for the International Team at next month’s Presidents Cup. 

Pendrith, who played on the team in both 2022 in North Carolina and 2024 on home soil in Montreal, will be one of the youngest assistants in competition history. 

The 35-year-old will work under captain Geoff Ogilvy and alongside fellow assistants Trevor Immelman and Camilo Villegas. Immelman picked Pendrith as one of his captain’s selections for the 2022 competition at Quail Hollow Club. 

Tim Clark was also named an assistant captain on Tuesday. 

"Taylor and Tim each bring unique experiences and perspectives that will be invaluable to our team as we prepare for Medinah," said Ogilvy in a release on Tuesday. "Tim has represented the International Team on some of the biggest stages and understands what it takes to compete in team golf, while Taylor represents both the present and future of our team, having played a key role in our recent Presidents Cup campaigns. 

“Both are highly respected by our players, and I'm excited to have them alongside us as we continue building toward 2026."

Pendrith had two top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, including a playoff loss at the ISCO Championship in July. But his body of work through the season left a little to be desired otherwise, and he missed the FedExCup playoffs, finishing 89th in the standings. He will still tee it up through the fall on the PGA Tour as he looks to stay inside the top 100 and re-earn his status for next season.  

The one-time PGA Tour winner knew it was unlikely he would make the team on merit for 2026, so it was a pleasant surprise to receive a call with positive news — while at his mother-in-law’s 60th birthday party, no less. Pendrith stepped away from the party to take a call from Ogilvy and had to wait nearly 15 minutes in a shocked but excited haze before he could tell his wife, Meg.  

“It was a little shocking, honestly, to me,” Pendrith told Sportsnet. “Obviously I’ve been a part of two teams as a player, and they are some of the greatest weeks of my career. It’s so much fun [to] be a part of the team and try to get the job done with the boys.  

“I’m thrilled and honoured to be part of the team in a different role. I feel like my game personally wasn’t good enough to make the team, but to be back with the boys and try to help get the job done is going to be awesome.”  

Pendrith will be the second Canadian assistant captain in event history, with Mike Weir serving as assistant in 2019 and 2022 before taking over as captain in 2024 at Royal Montreal. 

Paul Azinger was just 34 when he was Hale Irwin’s assistant captain at the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994, while Ian Baker-Finch was 35 when he was an assistant to Peter Thomson. 

Although Pendrith doesn’t have a hearty number of years in any real leadership position, his inside-the-ropes experience will be invaluable in the team room. Pendrith said he’s good at listening and will be the conduit for the current crop of players to the captains. While he said Ogilvy, as captain, and Immelman will be the louder voices in the room, Pendrith will be more of a “one-on-one” guy with the players, relaying updates on their feelings or their games to the more senior captains.  

“I’m going to do whatever I can for the boys to get fired up,” Pendrith said. “I’m willing to do anything Geoff asks of me but I think just having the experience fresh from the last two cups, if the boys have questions, or there will be a few rookies on the team I can help out and make them feel comfortable.  

“Just seeing a familiar face as a current player might help the boys a little bit. Just being a team guy and doing whatever is asked of me and help the guys squeak out a point, I’m happy to do.” 

The 2026 Presidents Cup will be contested Sept. 24-27 at Medinah Country Club near Chicago. 

The United States defeated the International Team 18.5-11.5 in Montreal.