GOLF | PRESIDENTS CUP
Presidents Cup 2024: what are the pairings for Friday, Day 2 of USA vs International Team?
Scottie Scheffler and the US team won all five opening four-ball matches on Thursday, achieving a rare Day 1 sweep at the biennial event.
This is only the third time in history that a team has swept the first-round matches at the Presidents Cup. The United States achieved this feat twice, first in 1994 and again in 2000. In comparison, the United States only swept one four-ball session at the Ryder Cup in 1984.
While there is still a long way to go, the Americans have taken the first step towards winning a 10th straight Presidents Cup this weekend. Russell Henley and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler delivered a dominant performance, securing a 3-and-2 victory over South Korea’s Tom Kim and Sungjae Im. This match was also the most intense encounter on Day 1.
After Kim celebrated a long birdie putt, giving the International team a brief upper hand on the par-3 seventh, Scheffler responded with a 27-foot birdie to halve the hole. Scheffler’s emotional reaction, shouting “What was that?” in Kim’s direction (who is also a close friend), was one of the most memorable moments of the first day.
All the U.S. pairings demonstrated strong finishes, leading in all five matches at times and not needing many clutch moments down the stretch.
Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele secured the first point for the U.S. with a 1-up victory over South Korea’s Byeong Hun An and Australia’s Jason Day. Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns finished the sweep with a 2 and 1 win against Canada’s Corey Conners and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. Burns’ birdie on No. 13 gave the U.S. a 2-up lead, sealing the victory.
The four-ball matches took place on the opening day of the four days of competition, concluding on Sunday. The first team to reach 15 1/2 points will win the cup.
Presidents Cup 2024: Pairings for Friday, Day 2
The 2024 Presidents Cup continues on Friday—the second day of matches at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada.
FOURSOMES
Match 1 (1:05 p.m. ET):
- Hideki Matsuyama & Sungjae Im (International) vs. Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele (USA)
Match 2 (1:19 p.m. ET):
- Adam Scott & Taylor Pendrith (International) vs. Collin Morikawa & Sahith Theegala (USA)
Match 3 (1:33 p.m. ET):
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout & Jason Day (International) vs. Max Homa & Brian Harman (USA)
Match 4 (1:47 p.m. ET):
- Corey Connors & Mackenzie Hughes (International) vs. Wyndham Clark & Tony Finau (USA)
Match 5 (2:01 p.m. ET):
- Si Woo Kim & Byeong Hun An (International) vs. & Scottie Scheffler & Russell Henley (USA)
There were five four-ball matches on Thursday, and the competition was tight all day. Towards the end, the U.S. team gained control by winning their matches in a close battle.
The International team lost three matches by a score of 1 down.
This means they have the potential to make a comeback on Friday, which will feature five foursomes matches.