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

The People 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 Group USA received all 5 matches.

So many gamers got here up clutch for the People Thursday after the Worldwide workforce fought onerous.

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 onerous, however the People have appeared to have the reply to each query thrown at them,” McGinley mentioned throughout Thursday’s protection.

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

Picture by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Photos

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

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

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

Now, Bradley is the 2025 Ryder Cup captain for Bethpage Black. After the power he delivered to the match on Thursday, subsequent yr 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 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 troublesome 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 like Kim realized his lesson the onerous method on Thursday.

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

Normally, Group 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. General, his four-ball pairings have been nice choices as a result of every group complimented one another properly.

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

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

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 Group USA wanted.

They received that first level and set the remainder in movement. General, it was a fantastic first session that arrange Group USA to brush the Internationals.

Will the Worldwide Group be capable to bounce again Friday afternoon, or will the People 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 can too comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.