Most Singles Matches Lost in the Presidents Cup
Which golfers have lost the most singles matches in Presidents Cup play? The record for most singles losses is six, with two other players having lost five times each in singles.
Stuart Appleby, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott weretied with five singles losses each in the Presidents Cup — until Scott lost his sixth singles match in 2024. But one of them has a record much worse than the others. Appleby only played five singles matches, while Mickelson played 12 and Scott 11.
Following is a rundown of all the golfers so far who've lost at least four matches in Presidents Cup singles. See also: Golfers with the most singles wins in the Presidents Cup.
Adam Scott, Team International, 6 losses
Scott had been the only golfer on this list with a winning record in singles ... until he lost again in the 2022 Presidents Cup. That dropped his overall singles record to .500, 5-5-0. But then Scott lost again in singles in the 2024 Presidents Cup, "claiming" this record for himself. Scott's 11 appearances range from 2003 through 2024.- 2003: lost to Charles Howell III, 5 and 4
- 2005: lost to Jim Furyk, 3 and 2
- 2009: lost to Stewart Cink, 4 and 3
- 2019: lost to Xander Schauffele, 2 and 1
- 2022: lost to Patrick Cantlay, 3 and 2
- 2024: lost to Collin Morikawa, 2 and 1
Stuart Appleby, Team International, 5 losses
Appleby's overall singles record in Presidents Cup play is 0-5-0. He first played in 1998 and last in 2007.- 1998: lost to Mark O'Meara, 1-down
- 2000: lost to Loren Roberts, 3 and 2
- 2003: lost to Chris DiMarco, 1-down
- 2005: lost to Chris DiMarco, 1-down
- 2007: lost to Charles Howell III, 2 and 1
Phil Mickelson, Team USA, 5 losses
Mickelson's five singles losses are spread over 12 appearances, ranging from 1994 through 2017. His singles record is 4-5-3 (four wins, five losses, three halves).- 1996: lost to Ernie Els, 3 and 2
- 2000: lost to Mike Weir, 4 and 3
- 2003: lost to Retief Goosen, 2 and 1
- 2011: lost to Adam Scott, 2 and 1
- 2013: lost to Angel Cabrera, 1-down
Robert Allenby, Team International, 4 losses
Allenby's mark isn't quite as bad as his fellow Australian Appleby's: In appearances from 1994 to 2011, Allenby went 1-4-1 in singles.- 1994: lost to Hale Irwin, 1-down
- 1996: lost to Steve Stricker, 6 and 5
- 2009: lost to Anthony Kim, 5 and 3
- 2011: lost to David Toms, 7 and 5
Ernie Els, Team International, 4 losses
Els, who first played the Presidents Cup in 1996 and last in 2013, has a career .500 record in singles: 4-4-0.- 2000: lost to Davis Love III, 4 and 3
- 2003: lost to Tiger Woods, 4 and 3
- 2009: lost to Sean O'Hair, 6 and 4
- 2011: lost to Jim Furyk, 4 and 3
Matt Kuchar, Team USA, 4 losses
In singles futility, Kuchar is the Team USA "leader": five appearances, no wins. But he at least managed one tie, going 0-4-1 from 2011-2019.- 2011: lost to Retief Goosen, 1-down
- 2013: lost to Marc Leishman, 1-down
- 2015: lost to Brendan Grace, 2 and 1
- 2017: lost to Charl Schwartzel, 1-down
Nick Price, Team International, 4 losses
Price was part of the Presidents Cup debut in 1994 and last played in 2003. His overall singles record was 1-4-0.- 1994: lost to Fred Couples, 1-down
- 1996: lost to Mark O'Meara, 1-down
- 2000: lost to David Duval, 2 and 1
- 2003: lost to Kenny Perry, 1-down
Vijay Singh, Team International, 4 losses
Singh first played in 1994, last in 2009. In eight career singles matches, his record was 1-4-3.- 1996: lost to Fred Couples, 2 and 1
- 2000: lost to Tiger Woods, 2 and 1
- 2005: lost to Fred Couples, 1-down
- 2007: lost to Phil Mickelson, 5 and 4
