Scottie Scheffler has been the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer for several years, but his struggles in team play have been noteworthy for the wrong reason. Playing with good friend Sam Burns, Scheffler has struggled mightily in Presidents and Ryder Cup play.
Scheffler and Burns got their first win as a team in Thursday’s opener to the Presidents Cup at Medinah to lift their record together to 1-3-1 but the losses swelled on Friday with a dramatic loss on the 18th hole to the Canadian team of Corey Conners and Nick Taylor.
Needing to protect a 1-up lead, Taylor hit a great approach, a 9-iron from 151 yards to 14 inches of the cup and Conners tapped in the birdie putt. Burns’ try for birdie lipped out, giving the Internationals the victory. Scheffler’s record with all his partners in Ryder Cup and team play is 6-11-4; in the Presidents Cup it’s 3-5-1.
Scheffler and Burns’ loss in the day’s first match set the stage for the U.S. – winners of 10 straight Presidents Cups – to end the day in a precarious position. The Internationals won all five alternate shot matches in Day 2 to take a 7-3 lead in the competition.
“They played well, and it was an uphill battle for us,’’ said U.S. veteran Xander Schauffele. “Luckily that session is over. It’s super early, but we’re aware what the score is.’’
Plenty of points are still up for grabs in the final two days. Eight will be offered in Saturday’s team format and 12 more on Sundays in singles play. It’ll take 15 ½ points for the U.S. to retain the President’s Cup or the Internationals to finally win it. Their lone when was 28 years ago in Australia, and three of the U.S. players hadn’t even been born then.
“Things really went our way today,’’ said Adam Scott, who is playing in a record 12th Presidents Cup for the Internationals but hasn’t had a team victory yet. “This was an exciting day but we can’t celebrate too hard. It’s only halfway done but, if any of our guys lacked belief they should have it now.’’
The U.S. held the first day lead for the 10th straight year, but it was only by a thin 3-2 margin. Captain Brandt Snedeker made changes for Friday’s five alternate shot matches. Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgman, who sat out on Thursday, played as a team on Friday and didn’t fare well. Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im whipped them 3 & 2 to pull the Internationals into a 3-3 tie on points and their teammates did the rest.
Jackson Koivun sat out even though he was part of the most dominant U.S. victory on the first day, a 4 & 3 triumph with partner Justin Thomas. Thomas carried the heaviest load in that win and set a record in the process. He improved to 7-0-0 in the Presidents Cup team format, passing Ernie Els who had six wins. Playing with Cameron Young on Friday, Thomas took his first loss in a 3&2 to Scott and Christian Bezuidenhout.
The 21-year old Koivun had a tough start in his Presidents Cup debut, hitting his second shot into a bunker and following that with a week chip on the first hole and hitting his second at No. 2 out of bounds before he settled down.
Also sitting out Friday was reigning John Deere Classic champion Chris Gotterup who was on the losing side with partner Patrick Cantlay on opening day. Cantlay played with his usual partner Schauffele on Friday and they were soundly beaten 4&3 by Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim.
