US Takes 3-2 Lead on Day One of Presidents Cup at Medinah

Americans Draw First Blood in Illinois

We're underway at Medinah Country Club, and if you were hoping for a Presidents Cup that might actually produce some drama, day one delivered exactly that. The United States hold a narrow 3-2 advantage after Thursday's fourball session, but this International squad isn't rolling over—not by a long shot.

Brandt Snedeker's American side came out firing, but Geoff Ogilvy's Internationals proved they're here to compete. After witnessing so many lopsided Presidents Cups over the years, this opening session felt genuinely contested from start to finish.

Thomas and Koivun Set the Tone

Justin Thomas paired with rookie Jackson Koivun in the opening match, and the veteran showed his young partner exactly how it's done at this level. Their 4&3 victory over Canada's Corey Conners and Colombia's Nico Echavarria was the most convincing win of the day.

Thomas looked dialed in from the jump, and Koivun didn't appear fazed by the magnitude of his Presidents Cup debut. That's exactly the kind of partnership Snedeker was hoping to cultivate—experienced leadership blending with fresh energy.

Scheffler and Burns Grind It Out

The world number one Scottie Scheffler and his longtime friend Sam Burns had to work considerably harder for their point. Facing Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im, the Americans found themselves in a genuine battle down the stretch.

Scheffler claimed the 17th hole to take control, and the duo managed to close things out despite Im and Lee creating several birdie opportunities that simply wouldn't fall. Sometimes in match play, the margins are that thin—a couple of putts lip out instead of dropping, and suddenly you're shaking hands on 17 instead of heading to 18 all square.

Clark and Morikawa Deliver the Session Win

With the session hanging in the balance, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa delivered the goods against a formidable pairing of Adam Scott and reigning Open champion Ryan Fox. The American duo led from the very first hole and never relinquished control, eventually securing a 3&2 victory with two holes remaining.

Two major champions combining for a clinical performance—that's exactly what home-team golf looks like when everything clicks.

"A session win is a session win; we're going to take it any way we can get it," Snedeker said afterward, and he's absolutely right. Nobody remembers whether you won a session 5-0 or 3-2 when the final tally gets counted on Sunday.

Internationals Show Fight

Here's where things get interesting for the rest of the week. The International team split the remaining two matches and demonstrated they won't be pushovers.

Japanese duo Hideki Matsuyama and debutant Ryo Hisatsune posted a convincing 3&1 win over Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele. That's a significant scalp—Schauffele is one of the most reliable performers in team competition, and seeing him on the wrong end of a result should provide confidence throughout Ogilvy's locker room.

Meanwhile, the Korean pairing of Kim Si-woo and Tom Kim looked comfortable throughout their 3&2 victory over Chris Gotterup and Patrick Cantlay. The Internationals clearly found some chemistry with their pairings, and that bodes well heading into Friday's foursomes.

What's Next at Medinah

Five foursome matches await on Friday, followed by a packed Saturday featuring morning fourballs and afternoon foursomes. All 24 players will then compete in Sunday's singles, with 15½ points required for overall victory.

The Americans are chasing their 11th consecutive Presidents Cup triumph. The Internationals haven't won this event since 1998—nearly three decades ago. That's an almost unfathomable drought, and while one session doesn't change history, Ogilvy's squad showed enough on Thursday to suggest they might make this interesting.

Key Takeaways

• US leads 3-2 after Thursday's fourball session at Medinah Country Club
• Thomas/Koivun posted the most dominant win (4&3) in the opening match
• Matsuyama/Hisatsune upset Schauffele and Young for a crucial International point
• Foursomes Friday: Five alternate-shot matches will test different skills and partnerships
• 15½ points needed for overall victory, with plenty of golf remaining