Presidents Cup 2024: Scottie Scheffler, Americans get up early with rare Thursday sweep at Royal Montreal

Even though they have only lifted the trophy once in history, the atmosphere was high for Mike Weir’s international team as they competed in the Presidents Cup in Quebec this weekend.

And while that has kept them in almost every game at Royal Montreal on Thursday afternoon, the international team is once again in a deep hole.

Scottie Scheffler and the United States defeated each of the five opening four-ball matches at the Presidents Cup on Thursday, achieving a rare first-round sweep at the biennial event. That gave the American team a dominant 5-0 lead heading into the second day of play.

This is now only the third time in history that a team has won the first round matches of the Presidents Cup. The United States has done it twice before, first in 1994 and again in 2000. By comparison, the United States has won just one four-ball session at the Ryder Cup in 1984. It is also the 38th time in the last 42 sessions. that the Americans are in charge.

Although there is still a long way to go, the Americans took the first step this weekend towards lifting a 10th consecutive Presidents Cup.

Scheffler set the tone for the Americans early and he and playing partner Russell Henley took the biggest win of the day. The world’s top-ranked golfer, who is in the midst of a tear the sport has not seen since the prime of Tiger Woods, tries to maintain his competitive level before ultimately taking the 3&2 win. That was the largest winning margin in the opening round.

Scheffler and Henley didn’t have much trouble, but the rest of the American team largely let their opponents hold on longer than necessary. Just look at Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau, who almost lost their match. They lost two straight holes and suddenly found themselves level with Ben An and Jason Day with two holes to go after both missing putts within 5 feet on the 16th.

Among the international team pairs, Day and An were by far the closest to victory. Day narrowly made a deep birdie putt on the par-3 17th that would have turned their match in their favor heading into the final hole. Instead, Schauffele bounced back with a birdie putt to put them in control and ultimately give them the win.

Keegan Bradley also helped save his match against Wyndham Clark with a deep birdie putt from the green on the back nine. That putt, which came after they dropped two holes to Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Taylor Pendrith to leave the door open, ultimately pushed them to the 1UP victory. Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala defeated Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott 1UP in their match. Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns, after falling back a hole early, cruised to a 2&1 win to complete the sweep.

The two teams return Friday for a series of five alternating shooting matches. If the international team wants to stay in this, they will have to try to gain at least a little ground on Friday before the weekend starts. Otherwise, even though the five games on Thursday were tight, the Americans will once again be in position to win the Presidents Cup.