Nila Kartika Wati
By Josh Berhow
September 24, 2026
MEDINAH, Ill. — The atmosphere at the historic Medinah Country Club was electric as the 2026 Presidents Cup commenced on Thursday, but for the International team, the opening day proved to be a familiar narrative of "what could have been." In a day defined by high-octane shot-making and momentum swings, the United States squad emerged from the four-ball session with a slim 3-2 lead, setting the stage for what promises to be a grueling four-day tactical battle.
While the Americans maintain their historical advantage, the Internationals—captained by Geoff Ogilvy—left the course feeling that they had left significant points on the table. The day was bookended by intense, tightly contested matches, though it was the opening fixture that ultimately defined the complexion of the leaderboard.
The Opening Salvo: A Match of Momentum
The marquee matchup of the day featured World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and his frequent partner Sam Burns squaring off against the International duo of Sungjae Im and Min Woo Lee. In the Presidents Cup, the opening match acts as the heartbeat of the session; a victory there provides a psychological edge that ripples through the rest of the team.
The intensity was evident from the first tee. Scheffler and Burns opened with a flurry of birdies, claiming the first four holes, only to find themselves deadlocked as Im and Lee countered with a blistering birdie streak of their own on holes two through five. The back-and-forth nature of the match reached a crescendo on the 13th hole, where a clutch birdie putt from Im, coupled with a rare misstep by Scheffler, handed the Internationals a narrow lead.
However, the resilience of the American pair proved to be the difference-maker. Sam Burns, often the unsung hero in team play, delivered what many observers labeled the "shot of the match" on the 14th hole. With the pressure mounting and the Americans trailing, Burns stuck his approach to within feet, setting up a birdie that squared the match.
"I felt like both teams got off to pretty hot starts today and we cooled off a little bit after that," Scheffler remarked following the round. "But Sam hit probably the shot of the match on 14. We lost 13 to go 1 down, and then he hit one in there to a couple feet, and we were able to square the match up. I felt like that was really a big moment for us as a team."
The match ultimately concluded on the 18th, with Scheffler and Burns securing a 1-up victory after the International duo failed to convert their birdie look. It was a heartbreaker for the Internationals, who had come within inches of stealing the momentum from the world’s top-ranked player.
Chronology of the Day: How the Points Were Distributed
The session was characterized by a distinct contrast between the early, tighter matches and the more decisive results that followed.
The Afternoon Progression:
- Match 1 (Scheffler/Burns vs. Im/Lee): The U.S. secures a 1-up victory in the only match to reach the final green.
- Match 2 (Thomas/Koivun vs. Conners/Echavarria): A dominant performance from the American side. Justin Thomas, arguably the most successful U.S. player in this format, led the charge alongside rookie Jackson Koivun. Thomas, who now boasts a pristine 7-0-0 four-ball record, dictated the pace, never trailing in a 4-and-3 victory.
- Match 3 (Matsuyama/Hisatsune vs. Young/Schauffele): The Internationals claimed their first point of the week here. Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune displayed masterful iron play to overcome the firepower of Xander Schauffele and Cameron Young, finishing with a 3-and-1 scoreline.
- Match 4 (Clark/Morikawa vs. Fox/Scott): Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa solidified their partnership with a 3-and-2 win over Ryan Fox and Adam Scott, keeping the momentum firmly in the U.S. column.
- Match 5 (Kim/Kim vs. Gotterup/Cantlay): The final match of the day saw the International duo of Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim surge late. After a back-and-forth struggle against Chris Gotterup and Patrick Cantlay, the Kim brothers of the International team took control on the 13th and 14th holes. The match ended 3-and-2 after a near-hole-out from Tom Kim on the 16th forced a concession from the Americans.
Supporting Data: The Historical Context
The U.S. team enters this event carrying the weight of a 13-1-1 all-time record in the Presidents Cup. Since the turn of the century, the Americans have been the dominant force, and their 18.5-11.5 victory in 2024 served as a reminder of their depth.
However, the data from Medinah suggests the gap may be narrowing. While the Americans hold the lead, the performance of the International rookies—specifically Jackson Koivun’s poise and the high-level execution from Ryo Hisatsune—indicates that the depth of the International squad is deeper than in years past.
Furthermore, the four-ball format has historically favored the Americans, who rely on the high-birdie-percentage play of their stars. The shift to foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday presents an entirely different set of challenges. In the 2024 event at Royal Melbourne, the Internationals famously swept the Friday foursomes session, erasing a 5-0 deficit. Captain Ogilvy is keenly aware of this history, hoping his team can replicate that grit as they transition to the more demanding alternate-shot format.
Official Responses and Tactical Outlook
Following the completion of the five matches, Captain Geoff Ogilvy remained optimistic, focusing on the growth of his squad rather than the scoreboard deficit.
"I saw a lot of good golf out there — 2-3 their way is not too bad," Ogilvy stated. "We had a couple of really good, solid matches, and we had a match go up to 18, which would have been nice if it went the other way, but 2-3, we’ll take that. The boys have got a round under their belt now."
Ogilvy’s comments suggest a strategic pivot. By emphasizing the "round under their belt," he is signaling to his team that the nerves of the opening day have been shed. The International strategy will likely involve tightening up their short-game execution in alternate-shot play, where accuracy and rhythm are prioritized over the raw birdie-hunting required in four-ball.
For the Americans, the priority remains consistency. The U.S. team utilized a mix of veterans like Thomas and rising stars like Koivun to maintain control. While the U.S. lead is secure for the night, there is an underlying acknowledgment that the Internationals have the capability to make this a contest if the Americans falter in the tricky Friday conditions.
Implications for the Remainder of the Week
The narrow 3-2 margin creates significant pressure for Friday’s foursomes. In professional golf, momentum is a fragile currency, and the Internationals are currently in a position where one strong session could turn the tides of the entire tournament.
The implications for the United States are clear: they must continue to leverage their home-field advantage and the depth of their roster to prevent a repeat of the Royal Melbourne comeback. For the International team, the objective is to capitalize on the confidence gained during the back-nine surges in today’s matches.
As the sun sets on Medinah, the scoreline reflects a balanced day of golf, but the tension is palpable. The Presidents Cup is notorious for its dramatic shifts in fortune, and with ten points to be awarded over the next 48 hours in foursomes and another session of four-ball, the 3-2 lead is, in the words of many veterans, "nothing more than a flicker of a candle in a hurricane."
The world’s attention now shifts to Friday morning, where the tactical nuances of alternate-shot play will determine whether the Americans extend their lead or if the Internationals can claw their way back into the heart of the competition. Given the level of play witnessed on Thursday, one thing is certain: the 2026 Presidents Cup is far from decided.
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