Scheffler and Burns Finally Deliver as US Takes Presidents Cup Lead

Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns finally recorded their first victory as a team on their fifth attempt, helping the United States take a 3-2 lead over the International team after the opening fourballs session of the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club on Thursday.

The Americans have now won the opening session in nine of the last 10 editions of the Presidents Cup. US captain Brandt Snedeker said the team was pleased to secure an early advantage but stressed that the competition remained long.

“A session win is a session win. We’re going to take it any way we can get it,” Snedeker said. “This is one session. We’ve got four more to go.”

Scheffler and Burns had previously gone 0-3-1 together in Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup competition. They looked set for another difficult afternoon before producing the decisive moments late in their match against Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im.

The American pair started with four consecutive birdies, but the Internationals responded and levelled the match. Im then put the International team ahead with a birdie on the 13th hole.

Burns immediately answered with an approach to within two feet on the 14th, allowing the Americans to square the match. Lee and Im then missed par putts on the 17th to give the US a one-hole lead.

Both Americans found bunkers on opposite sides of the 18th green, but Scheffler blasted his shot close to the hole to secure par. Im’s 40-foot birdie attempt to halve the match struck the back of the cup and bounced out.

“Sam hit probably the shot of the match there on 14,” Scheffler said. “I felt like that was really a big moment for us as a team, and he stepped up when we needed him to.”

The US secured two other victories. Jackson Koivun, playing in his first Presidents Cup only three months after turning professional, partnered Justin Thomas to a 4-and-3 win over Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria.

Thomas improved his Presidents Cup fourballs record to 7-0. Koivun also became the first player to win points in both the Walker Cup and Presidents Cup within just over a year.

Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa defeated Adam Scott and Ryan Fox 3-and-2 without trailing during their match.

The International team claimed its two points through Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune, who became the first Japanese pairing in the Presidents Cup since 1998, and Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim.

International captain Geoff Ogilvy said his team remained encouraged despite trailing 3-2.

Friday’s schedule features five foursomes matches, with both teams looking to build on their opening-day performances.