Presidents Cup: 3 fast takeaways from Day 1 as Staff USA leads 5-0

The Individuals introduced their A-game Thursday at the Presidents Cup as they swept the Worldwide workforce 5-0.

It was the third time within the occasion’s 30-year historical past that Staff USA gained all 5 matches.

So many gamers got here up clutch for the Individuals Thursday after the Worldwide workforce fought exhausting.

Three of the 5 matches went to the 18th gap whereas World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley took down Tom Kim and Sungjae Im 3 & 2.

Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay defeated Corey Conners and Hideki Matsuyama 2 & 1.

Golf Channel’s Paul McGinley summed up Day 1 completely.

“The Internationals have tried exhausting, however the Individuals have appeared to have the reply to each query thrown at them,” McGinley mentioned throughout Thursday’s protection.

Now that each one the matches are over, listed here are three takeaways from Thursday’s four-ball session.

Photograph by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Pictures

It has been too lengthy since Keegan Bradley was on a Staff USA

Keegan Bradley was huge for the Individuals throughout Thursday’s session. His ardour was unimaginable, proving {that a} decade is way too lengthy for him to not be on a workforce.

The final time he appeared on Staff USA was in 2013 for the Ryder Cup. He was infamously snubbed off the 2023 workforce, which induced a lot controversy amongst followers.

Now, Bradley is the 2025 Ryder Cup captain for Bethpage Black. After the power he dropped at the match on Thursday, subsequent yr can not come quick sufficient.

Bradley’s putter secured the match for him and Wyndham Clark towards Taylor Pendrith and Christian Bezuidenhout.

He made 34, 11 and 19-foot putts all through the spherical. That 19-footer got here on 18 and helped safe the 1UP victory.

The underside line right here is that Bradley is a gem. He’s so good on a workforce and is already proving himself regardless of being 38 years previous.

Scottie Scheffler delivered some robust medication to his good good friend Tom Kim

Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley performed Tom Kim and Sungjae Im for the primary session. The pettiness between Scheffler and Kim was like watching a blockbuster film.

Seeing them two trash-talk one another on the seventh inexperienced was one of many day’s highlights. The Presidents Cup wants that type of pleasure, and coming from Scheffler was superior.

It’s tough to get Scheffler to indicate any emotion, so it was stunning that he matched Kim’s power.

“It regarded like he poked the bear, from my perspective,” Scheffler mentioned after the match on Thursday.

It looks as if Kim discovered his lesson the exhausting means on Thursday.

Jim Furyk’s alternative to separate up regular pairings proved to be sensible

Often, Staff USA pairs Sam Burns with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele with Patrick Cantlay. Nonetheless, Captain Jim Furyk cut up these two up and put them with new companions.

Burns and Cantlay performed in the anchor match, whereas Scheffler performed with Russell Henley in Match 3. Total, his four-ball pairings have been nice choices as a result of every group complimented one another properly.

Scheffler and Henley acquired into a fantastic rhythm and ended the match early. Burns and Cantlay additionally completed early on the day.

Nonetheless, I like that he paired Sahith Theegala with Collin Morikawa as a result of they’ve related tendencies and provides off a fantastic vibe. Morikawa’s expertise helped the rookie settle in and play nicely.

Then, placing Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele out within the first group was wonderful. Two guys who knew what was on the road and what they needed to do have been simply what Staff USA wanted.

They acquired that first level and set the remainder in movement. Total, it was a fantastic first session that arrange Staff USA to brush the Internationals.

Will the Worldwide Staff be capable to bounce again Friday afternoon, or will the Individuals run away with one other Presidents Cup?

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