U.S. Leads International Team 3-2 After Presidents Cup Opener

The United States took a 3-2 lead over the International Team after Thursday’s five opening fourball matches at the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club in Illinois. The Americans won three matches, while the International Team won two, leaving the contest separated by one point after the first session. Justin Thomas and rookie Jackson Koivun earned the opening point for the United States, defeating Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria 4 and 3. Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune answered for the International Team with a 3-and-1 win over Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele, leveling the session at one point apiece. Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns then edged Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im by one hole in the closest match of the session, restoring the American lead. The teams were tied late before the Americans took the 17th hole and held on at the last. Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa extended the U.S. advantage with a 3-and-2 victory over Adam Scott and Ryan Fox. In the final match, Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim secured the International Team’s second point, beating Chris Gotterup and Patrick Cantlay by the same margin and setting the final score at 3-2.