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SportsLine’s Model Backs Si Woo Kim as Top International Points Scorer at +550

A model that's called 17 majors says bet on Si Woo Kim to lead the International Team against USA at the Presidents Cup.

By mitch·5 min read
A golfer swings at night on a floodlit golf course.

The 2026 Presidents Cup starts Thursday at 12:35 p.m. ET at Medinah Country Club near Chicago, and SportsLine is making a bold claim: its model has called 17 majors, and it wants you to bet on Si Woo Kim.

Team USA faces the International Team in a biennial golf event that mixes four-ball, foursome and singles matches over four days. The International side includes players from outside Europe, with Si Woo Kim leading the charge at No. 14 in the world rankings. Team USA’s anchor is World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

The event is a battle for 30 total points, with the first team reaching 15 1/2 winning it. Team USA is the -590 favorite via FanDuel Sportsbook, meaning you risk $590 to win $100. The International Team is +550, and a tie at 15-15 pays +1900.

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But SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, is telling a different story. After simulating the event 10,000 times, it is backing the underdog.

The Model’s Record

McClure’s model has a track record. It has nailed 17 majors entering the weekend, including the 2026 Masters — its fifth Masters in a row — plus last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship.

Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites. The model’s approach is simple: run simulations and see what the numbers say. In this case, they say the International Team has a shot.

The model’s picks are exclusive to SportsLine. That is the rub.

Kim’s Case for Value

One of the 2026 Presidents Cup prop picks from McClure’s model backs Si Woo Kim as the top International points scorer at +550. That is a longshot. No other player on the International Team is in the top 20 of the world rankings, and McClure loves this value at higher than +500.

Kim brings experience. He has three Presidents Cup appearances and an overall record of 6-5, with a 5-3 mark in his last two events. He is coming off a strong PGA Tour campaign that featured 11 top-10 finishes, including a runner-up at the FedEx St. Jude Championship to open the playoffs last month.

“No other player on the International Team is in the top 20 of the world rankings, so McClure loves this value at higher than +500.”

The model sees Kim as the best bet on the International side. The International Team is a +550 underdog overall, and Kim is the highest-ranked player on that side.

The Picks You Cannot See

SportsLine is not sharing everything. The model has made the call on which side wins, and it has locked in another longshot prop that returns higher than +800. Those picks are behind a paywall.

The company is promoting its premium content aggressively. It offers a $50 bonus after $10 in trades with the Polymarket promo code CBSSPORTS. It also pushes a Kalshi promo code for new users who trade $25+, offering a $55 bonus with the code CBSSPORTS55.

The Field Set

The full rosters are out. Team USA features Scheffler, Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns, Russell Henley, Collin Morikawa, Chris Gotterup, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Jackson Koivun and Jacob Bridgeman.

The International Team counters with Kim, Hideki Matsuyama, Ryan Fox, Tom Kim, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Sungjae Im, Nico Echavarria, Corey Conners, Nick Taylor, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Ryo Hiatsune.

What the Model Says

The model’s predictions are available at SportsLine. The projected leaderboard is the result of 10,000 simulations, and the results were surprising.

The question is whether anyone will actually use them. SportsLine is a paid service, and the model’s picks are exclusive to its members.

The Commercial Question

SportsLine is running this as a marketing play dressed as analysis. The model’s record is the hook, and the picks are the sale.

The promo codes are the giveaway. You get $50 after $10 in trades with Polymarket, and $55 with Kalshi. The Kalshi offer requires a minimum trade of $25.

The irony is that the model’s picks are not public. You have to pay to see them.

The Verdict

The model has called 17 majors. That is a real record. But the 2026 Presidents Cup is a different animal. It is a team event with a mixed format, and the best player in the world is on the defending champion’s side.

Team USA is the favorite for a reason. Scheffler is the No. 1 player in the world, and the roster around him is deep.

But the International Team has a chance. Kim is a proven performer in this event, and the model sees value in him scoring the most points.

The picks are exclusive to SportsLine, so the smart move is to follow the model’s logic rather than its specific selections. The model is backing the underdog. That is the signal.

Key Facts Box

  • Event: 2026 Presidents Cup
  • Date: Starts Thursday, 12:35 p.m. ET
  • Location: Medinah Country Club, near Chicago
  • Format: Four-ball, foursome, singles matches
  • Points: 30 total, first team to 15 1/2 wins
  • Odds: Team USA -590, International Team +550, tie +1900 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
  • Model record: 17 majors called, including five straight Masters
  • Picks: Exclusive to SportsLine, with promo codes CBSSPORTS and CBSSPORTS55

The model backs the underdog. The International Team is a +550 underdog, and the model’s picks back that side. Whether you want to follow is your call.

SportsLine is betting you will. The promo codes are ready, and the picks are hidden.

Source material: “2026 Presidents Cup odds, predictions: Surprising USA vs. International picks by model that's called 17 majors,” CBS Sports.

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