Americans Edge Internationals in Presidents Cup Opening Session
The United States won three of five four-ball matches at Medinah to take a 3-2 lead in the 2026 Presidents Cup. Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns secured the first point, while Justin Thomas and Jackson Koivun posted the largest win of the day. The International Team stayed close with victories from Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune, plus Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim.
The opening session featured several notable storylines. Scheffler and Burns finally broke through as a partnership after previously going 0-3-1 together, with Burns' approach at the 14th and Scheffler's near-perfect shot at the last sealing the match. Koivun, who turned professional only months ago and earned his captain's pick after beating Scheffler at the 3M Open, impressed alongside Thomas in the largest win of the day.
The International Team's resilience kept the session close. Matsuyama and Hisatsune controlled their match from the middle stretch, while the Korean pairing of Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim finished strongly against Gotterup and Cantlay. With three American rookies on the roster, captain Snedeker's selections are already being tested at Medinah.
The tight 3-2 margin may signal a more competitive Presidents Cup than recent editions, potentially drawing broader audiences to a team format that often struggles for attention against individual majors. Close matches could boost international interest in golf, particularly in Asia given the strong performances from Japanese and Korean players. The event's outcome may also influence perceptions of American depth ahead of future Ryder Cup selections, though such effects remain speculative at this early stage.