Presidents Cup: Group U.S. stymies Worldwide momentum; dominates Day 1

Day 1 of the Presidents Cup is within the books as Group USA dominated at Royal Montreal Golf Membership Thursday to guide 5-0.

It marked the third time within the occasion’s 30-year historical past that the Individuals swept the Worldwide within the opening competitors.

Day 1 of the competition proved to be fairly memorable.

From Mackenzie Hughes shotgunning a beer on the opening tee to the chippiness between groups, it’s straightforward to say Day 1 offered loads of leisure.

Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele took on Jason Day and Byeong Hun An within the day’s first match.

It got here all the way down to the 18th gap, and the Day/An pairing wanted to win it to half the match.

An’s method shot landed a bit over 4 toes from the outlet, however Schauffele’s hit his to 2 toes away. That shot arrange the 1UP victory.

The second level got here from the Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley versus Tom Kim and Sungjae Im match.

This matchup noticed chirpiness from each the American and Worldwide gamers.

All of it started on the seventh inexperienced when Scheffler and Kim trashed-talked one another. Kim made a large birdie putt, however Scheffler responded along with his long-distance putt and matched the power.

The drama didn’t finish there.

Kim made a clutch putt on the eighth. After, he and Im walked to the following tee field 60 yards away.

This gesture didn’t impress the Individuals.

Kevin Kisner, one of many assistant captains for Group USA, didn’t like that transfer from the Worldwide Group. He let Camilo Villegas, an Worldwide assistant, know he didn’t respect the gesture, which prompted the second dramatic second of the match.

The gesture clearly didn’t trouble Scheffler or Henley, as they may not recollect it after successful the match.

“I didn’t see it,” Scheffler mentioned. “He could have. I didn’t. They advised me just a few holes later.

“I didn’t discover it (laughter). Look, we’re all out right here competing, attempting to win factors,” Henley added. “So, like Scottie mentioned, it’s all good enjoyable, and we’re simply attempting to win factors.”

Scheffler continued along with his feedback, referencing the trade of phrases between him and his good pal Kim.

“To be truthful to them strolling off, I did like scream at them on the outlet (laughter),” Scheffler mentioned. “I’m not going to say it was their fault, you understand what I imply?”

Henley picked up the momentum after Kevin Kisner predicted he would on X, previously often called Twitter.

Photograph by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Photos

The previous Georgia Bulldog made a pair of birdies on the 14th and fifteenth, simply minutes after Kisner posted his tweet.

Scheffler and Henley went on to win 3 & 2 over Kim and Im to offer the Individuals a 2-0 lead.

Group USA’s third level got here from the Californian duo Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala. They took on the all-Australian crew in Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee.

This match went all the way in which to the 18th gap. The Individuals got here again from being 1 down till the twelfth gap. Morikawa tied it on 12 earlier than they took the lead on 14.

Photograph by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos

From there, the duo held onto the lead and gained 1UP, which gave Theegala, a Presidents Cup rookie, his first factors within the occasion.

Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay performed in opposition to Corey Conners and Hideki Matsuyama. They earned the fourth level of the day with a 2 & 1 victory.

The session got here all the way down to Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark in opposition to Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Taylor Pendrith.

They gained 1 UP after the 2025 Ryder Cup Captain’s flat stick obtained sizzling. He made 34, 11, and 19-foot putts, with the final on the 18th to substantiate the victory.

This week marks his first crew begin because the 2014 Ryder Cup, when he secured the purpose for the Individuals to open the 2024 Presidents Cup at 5-0.

Friday’s session shall be a foursome format, with the Individuals trying to construct on their sizzling begin and the Worldwide gamers trying to bounce again after the tough begin.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may as well comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.