Presidents Cup: USA edge opening fourballs 3-2 at Medinah as Asian stars keep Internationals close
Scheffler, Thomas and Morikawa won points for the USA, while Matsuyama's pair and the two Kims kept the Internationals within one point after Day 1.
The United States lead the 2026 Presidents Cup 3-2 after Thursday's opening fourball session at Medinah Country Club near Chicago. It could have been a lot worse for Geoff Ogilvy's International team. Japanese and South Korean players won both of their points, and one of the three US wins was only decided at the last hole.
Session results (Day 1, fourballs)
- Scottie Scheffler/Sam Burns (USA) beat Min Woo Lee/Sungjae Im, 1 up
- Hideki Matsuyama/Ryo Hisatsune (INT) beat Cameron Young/Xander Schauffele, 3 and 1
- Justin Thomas/Jackson Koivun (USA) beat Corey Conners/Nico Echavarria, 4 and 3
- Wyndham Clark/Collin Morikawa (USA) beat Ryan Fox/Adam Scott, 3 and 2
- Tom Kim/Si Woo Kim (INT) beat Chris Gotterup/Patrick Cantlay, 3 and 2
Japan and Korea deliver
The Japanese pairing of Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune beat Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele 3 and 1. The PGA Tour reported that Young hit into the water at the eighth hole, which helped the Internationals build momentum.
The Korean pairing of Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim beat Patrick Cantlay and Chris Gotterup 3 and 2. According to Golf Channel, they did not make a bogey all round.
The closest match of the day was the opener. Australia's Min Woo Lee and Korea's Sungjae Im pushed Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns all the way. Im's birdie putt at the 17th hit the back of the cup but was going too fast and rolled a few feet past. Scheffler and Burns won 1 up.
"We just did our best to stay in it," Scheffler said, according to Golf Channel. He praised Burns for his "clutch shots late."
A perfect start for Koivun
Jackson Koivun had a winning start to his Presidents Cup career. He and Justin Thomas beat Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria 4 and 3, and Thomas improved to 7-0-0 in Presidents Cup fourballs.
"Me and JT, we played really well out there. He picked me up when I didn't play too hot," Koivun said.
Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa won the other US point, beating Ryan Fox and Adam Scott 3 and 2. The PGA Tour said Clark led all players on Thursday with 2.23 strokes gained putting.
Why a one-point gap matters
The history is heavily in the Americans' favour. The US have won 13 of the 15 previous editions, with one tie, and are going for an 11th straight win. The Internationals have not lifted the trophy since 1998. CBS Sports noted that the US have eight of the world's top 11 players, while no International player is ranked higher than 14th.
So a 3-2 score after the first session is a respectable start for the visitors. The first team to 15.5 points wins the Cup.
Friday foursomes
US captain Brandt Snedeker has kept Scheffler and Burns together for Friday's foursomes (alternate shot) and rested Koivun. Tee times are in US Eastern Time. The first match starts at 1.05am Saturday Malaysian time.
- Scheffler/Burns vs Conners/Nick Taylor
- Russell Henley/Jacob Bridgeman vs Im/Matsuyama
- Morikawa/Clark vs Fox/Lee
- Thomas/Young vs Scott/Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- Cantlay/Schauffele vs Tom Kim/Si Woo Kim
The last match is a rematch of Thursday's contest between Cantlay and the two Kims, this time with Cantlay alongside Schauffele.
Key takeaways
- The USA lead the Internationals 3-2 after Thursday's fourballs at Medinah.
- The Internationals' two points came from Japan's Matsuyama/Hisatsune and Korea's Tom Kim/Si Woo Kim.
- Jackson Koivun won on his debut alongside Justin Thomas, who is now 7-0-0 in Presidents Cup fourballs.
- The first team to 15.5 points wins, and the US are chasing an 11th straight title.
- Friday's foursomes start at about 1am Saturday Malaysian time.
FAQ
What is the difference between fourballs and foursomes? In fourballs, each player plays his own ball and the better score on each hole counts. In foursomes, partners take turns hitting the same ball.
Who are the captains? Brandt Snedeker captains the United States and Geoff Ogilvy captains the International team.
When did the Internationals last win? In 1998. They have not won the Presidents Cup since then.
Sources: PGA Tour, Golf Channel, CBS Sports, NBC Sports