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Scheffler Lifts US to 3-2 Presidents Cup Lead
By Smacktok
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Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns finally won together in team golf, closing out Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im 1-up in the lead four-ball as the United States took a 3-2 lead after Day 1 of the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club on Thursday, the PGA Tour and Associated Press reported. Burns stuck an 8-iron to 2 feet on the 14th, and Scheffler saved par from a bunker on 18 to book the full point.
That session stamp is the board. Soft fantasy note only: a four-ball point does not invent Friday foursomes lines. Ride the lead, then reassess after the next session pairings post.
Scheffler and Burns entered 0-3-1 as partners in prior Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup play. They birdied the opening stretch, watched the Internationals answer with four straight birdies, then seized the swing holes late. AP quoted Scheffler calling Burns' 14th the shot of the match after Scottie was essentially out of the hole.
Justin Thomas and rookie Jackson Koivun won 4 and 3 over Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria. Thomas improved to 7-0 in Presidents Cup four-ball. Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa never trailed in a 3-and-2 win over Ryan Fox and Adam Scott. Soft fantasy note only: treat Scheffler as the tone-setter, not as a lock to go undefeated all week.
American fans get the ninth opening-session win in the last 10 Presidents Cups for a side that has won 10 straight overall. Captain Brandt Snedeker took any session win he could get. Soft fantasy note only: Friday foursomes rewrite the board before you spend on a Sunday singles script.
International fans still have fight. Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune beat Cameron Young and Xander Schauffele 3 and 1. Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim closed the day 3 and 2 over Chris Gotterup and Patrick Cantlay. Geoff Ogilvy said his side was proud at 2-3 and ready for Friday.
Five foursomes matches are next at Medinah. Scheffler and Burns are scheduled out first against Conners and Nick Taylor. Soft fantasy note only: bank the Day 1 lead, then wait for the alternate-shot stamps.
Presidents Cup board
US 3, International 2 after Thursday four-ball at Medinah.
Scheffler/Burns def Lee/Im 1-up. Thomas/Koivun 4&3. Clark/Morikawa 3&2.
Internationals: Matsuyama/Hisatsune 3&1; Tom Kim/Si Woo Kim 3&2. Next: Friday foursomes.
Fan closer
Trust the Scheffler-Burns breakthrough and the 3-2 lead, then wait for Friday foursomes before you script the whole Cup.
