Longtime motorsports executive and Chicagoland Speedway GM to lead PGA TOUR’s premier team event at Medinah C.C.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and MEDINAH, Illinois – The PGA TOUR announced today that former Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Tournament Director and longtime motorsports executive Joie Chitwood has been named Executive Director of the 2026 Presidents Cup, which will be contested at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago.
“I am thrilled to be named Executive Director of the 2026 Presidents Cup and look forward to returning to Chicago to guide what has become a staple of top global events in sports,” said Chitwood. “This city has a tremendous passion for golf as evidenced by the number of championships hosted through the years, and Medinah Country Club has played an incredible role in that history. We are going to engage the vibrant Chicagoland business community and its great sports fans to deliver an unforgettable week at the Presidents Cup.”
Chitwood comes to the Presidents Cup after spending two years as Vice President of Corporate Development for Arnold Palmer Enterprises, which included his role as Tournament Director over one of the PGA TOUR’s premier championships. In that role, he was tasked with driving revenue growth and operational excellence, which delivered record results for the longtime event, founded by Arnold Palmer. In addition, Chitwood also oversaw the Arnold Palmer Cup, a prestigious collegiate team competition featuring the top U.S. and International players, similar to the Presidents Cup.
The bulk of Chitwood’s extensive career in the sports industry has been in motorsports, where he got his start at the Indy Racing League in Indianapolis. After four years, he was selected by the executive leadership of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASCAR for a joint venture to construct and operate the Chicagoland Speedway, a $135 million, 75,000 seat, racetrack facility on 900 acres in nearby Joliet, Illinois. As Vice President and General Manager, Chitwood oversaw marketing, PR, sponsorships, ticketing, hospitality, operations, and legislative affairs for both the Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway, delivering a sold-out inaugural season.
After launching the Chicagoland Speedway, Chitwood returned to Indianapolis as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he oversaw all business functions for the world’s largest sporting venue and increased performance and revenue through reorganization and partnership development.
From 2009-19, Chitwood rose to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of International Speedway Corporation (ISC) in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was tasked with improving the nationwide performance of 13 motor racing facilities – including the world-renowned Daytona International Speedway. In this role, he oversaw the corporation’s day-to-day activities and financial results; a $500 million plan for capital expenditures; and led the largest investment in ISC’s history, Daytona Rising, a $400 million project.
“Joie has a fantastic track record of growing sales and partnerships across some of the biggest arenas in sports, and we are excited to welcome him to the Presidents Cup team,” said Matt Rapp, the TOUR’s Senior Vice President of Championship Management. “His leadership skills and knowledge of the Chicago business community will be a major asset for us leading into 2026, and I know he’s eager to get started on what is projected to be our biggest event ever.”
The 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, shattered all previous sales and attendance records for the biennial event, with a week that saw the U.S. Team defeat the International Team, 17.5 to 12.5. The 2024 Presidents Cup will return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, September 24-29, where event organizers are expecting the strong momentum to continue with the event contested in Canada for the first time since 2007.
“Medinah Country Club is delighted to welcome Joie into our family and provide immense support in his team’s efforts to put forth a successful Presidents Cup, which will add to the storied history of Course #3 and the Chicagoland sports landscape,” said Medinah member and 2026 Presidents Cup Chair, Michael Scimo. “We take a great amount of pride in the prior championships held at Medinah and are confident the 2026 Presidents Cup will deliver a first-class experience for the players, partners and fans.”
Located 25 miles west of downtown Chicago in DuPage County, Medinah Country Club was established in 1924 and boasts the famed Course #3, which was designed by Tom Bendelow, redesigned by Rees Jones, and is currently undergoing an extensive renovation and redesign with OCM Golf, led by former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy. Winners at Medinah include Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Hale Irwin, Billy Casper, Lou Graham, Cary Middlecoff, Gary Player, and Byron Nelson.
The PGA TOUR visited Medinah most recently in 2019, where Thomas won the BMW Championship in the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs for his 10th PGA TOUR victory. The club also played host to the 2012 Ryder Cup, two PGA Championships, three U.S. Opens, the 1988 U.S. Senior Open, and a number of other professional championships.
For more information about the Presidents Cup, please visit PresidentsCup.com.
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About the Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup is a biennial global team competition between the United States and an International team that represents the rest of the world excluding Europe. The competition, which is contested by the PGA TOUR, alternates between venues in the U.S. and overseas. The Presidents Cup will return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 24-29, 2024. Since the event’s inception in 1994, more than $56 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup. Citi, Cognizant and Rolex are the exclusive Global Partners of the Presidents Cup. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit PresidentsCup.com for more information.
About Citi
Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.
About Cognizant
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we’re improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.
About Rolex
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise. Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture.
Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.
The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
