The United States seized a 3-2 lead on Thursday at Medinah Country Club, claiming the opening session of four-ball matches at the Presidents Cup for the ninth time in the last 10 editions. U.S. Captain Brandt Snedeker acknowledged the narrow margin after a cloudy afternoon where multiple matches hung in the balance, noting that his squad will take a session win by any margin available.
Scheffler and Burns Secure Crucial Opening Point
Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns broke through for their first victory as partners on their fifth combined attempt across the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. The American duo jumped out to an early lead by birdieing the first four holes of the opening match. The International pairing of Sungjae Im and Min Woo Lee responded by winning four straight holes to level the score, eventually taking a 1-up lead when Im converted a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-3 13th hole.
Burns immediately answered on the 14th hole by sticking his approach shot to two feet for a tap-in birdie, squaring the match once more. On the 17th hole, Im and Lee faltered with a bogey after Lee went long of the green and Im pushed a 40-foot birdie attempt 15 feet past the cup. On the 18th, both Scheffler and Burns found bunkers on opposite sides of the green, but Scheffler blasted out to a foot to save par. Im missed a 40-foot birdie try that caught the back of the cup and hopped out, handing the full point to the Americans.
“Sam hit probably the shot of the match there on 14,” Scheffler said of his partner’s crucial approach.
Koivun and Thomas Dominate in Lopsided Match
Twenty-one-year-old Jackson Koivun made an immediate impact just over three months after turning professional. Partnered with Justin Thomas, Koivun cruised to a 4-and-3 victory over Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria. Thomas extended his undefeated four-ball record to 7-0-0 in the event.
Despite an erratic start that included an out-of-bounds tee shot—rescued by a precise bunker shot from Thomas—Koivun settled into his routine. He landed a wedge to seven feet for birdie on the par-5 sixth hole to push the U.S. lead to 3-up, leaving the International pair unable to mount a serious challenge for the remainder of the afternoon.
International Team Responds in Anchor and Mid-Matches
International Captain Geoff Ogilvy expressed satisfaction with keeping the deficit to a single point after the first round. Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune delivered a key win for the visitors, marking the first time two Japanese players competed together in the Presidents Cup since 1998. Matsuyama and Hisatsune claimed the final two holes of the front nine to establish a 2-up lead over Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele, closing out the match on the 17th green.
“It’s been a long time. I’ve been waiting for another guy from Japan to come play with me, and I was really happy today,” Matsuyama said.
Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim secured the other point for the International side in the anchor match. Meanwhile, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa earned a 3-and-2 victory for the United States, never trailing against Adam Scott and Ryan Fox. Five matches of foursomes are scheduled for Friday at Medinah Country Club.