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

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

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

So many gamers got here up clutch for the Individuals Thursday after the Worldwide staff fought arduous.

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 arduous, however the Individuals have appeared to have the reply to each query thrown at them,” McGinley stated throughout Thursday’s protection.

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

Photograph by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Photos

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

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

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

Now, Bradley is the 2025 Ryder Cup captain for Bethpage Black. After the vitality he delivered to the match on Thursday, subsequent 12 months can’t come quick sufficient.

Bradley’s putter secured the match for him and Wyndham Clark in opposition to 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 staff and is already proving himself regardless of being 38 years previous.

Scottie Scheffler delivered some powerful medication to his good pal 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 sort of pleasure, and coming from Scheffler was superior.

It’s troublesome to get Scheffler to point out any emotion, so it was surprising that he matched Kim’s vitality.

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

It looks as if Kim discovered his lesson the arduous manner on Thursday.

Jim Furyk’s selection to separate up regular pairings proved to be good

Often, Group USA pairs Sam Burns with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele with Patrick Cantlay. Nevertheless, Captain Jim Furyk break 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. General, his four-ball pairings have been nice choices as a result of every group complimented one another properly.

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

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

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

They acquired that first level and set the remaining in movement. General, it was a terrific first session that arrange Group USA to comb the Internationals.

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

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers 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 may as well comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.