The Presidents Cup kicked off Thursday at Medinah Country Club, just outside Chicago, with the United States securing a 3‑2 advantage over the International Team in the first four‑ball session. The win puts the U.S. on track for a potential 11th straight title.
Thomas and Koivun set the tone
Veteran Justin Thomas paired with 21‑year‑old rookie Jackson Koivun to claim the opening point, defeating Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria 4&3. Koivun birdied the third hole and added another birdie on the sixth, giving the Americans a steady lead that the International side never reclaimed. “It was fun to be out there with Jackson and watch him do his thing. He’s really impressive to watch, and I’m really happy he’s on my team,” Thomas said after the match. The victory extended Thomas’ flawless Presidents Cup four‑ball record to 7‑0‑0.
Japanese duo answers back
Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune responded for the International Team, beating Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele 3&1 to level the session at 1‑1. The all‑Japanese pair moved two up after nine holes and held the advantage despite Young’s birdie on the 15th. Hisatsune answered with a birdie of his own, and the International side closed out the match two holes later.
Scheffler and Burns restore U.S. lead
In the day’s closest match, Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns edged Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im 1‑up. The Americans surged ahead early, lost the lead by the fifth hole, and fought back to win on the final hole after Scheffler’s superb bunker shot. “We did our best to stay in it. Both teams got off to pretty hot starts today and we cooled off after that a little bit,” Scheffler said.
Clark and Morikawa dominate
Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa delivered a dominant 3&2 victory over Adam Scott and Ryan Fox, further extending the U.S. lead. Their performance highlighted the depth of the American roster.
Kim brothers keep the contest tight
South Korean twins Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim narrowed the gap to 3‑2 with a 3&2 win over Chris Gotterup and Patrick Cantlay. Tom Kim nearly made a hole‑in‑one on the 16th, his tee shot striking the cup before bouncing back, a dramatic moment that underscored the excitement of the event.
The biennial Presidents Cup features 30 matches over four days, with the first team to reach 15.5 points claiming the trophy. Friday’s schedule includes five foursomes matches. The United States holds an all‑time record of 13‑1‑1 in the competition, with its sole loss in 1998 and a tie in 2003.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
