Team USA, with a roster stacked with big-name players, was expected to roll over the International team at the 2026 Presidents Cup this week at Medinah.
Then, Friday happened.
The International team won all five foursomes (alternative shot) matches and will take a stunning 7-3 lead heading into Saturday’s two sessions.
NESBITT: Why All the Pressure Is on the Star-Studded U.S. Team at the Presidents Cup
Team USA captain Brandt Snedeker tried his best to shake off the brutal day for his team, saying there’s a lot of golf left and that they just have to regroup and get back at it on Saturday.
“Hats off to the International team, they went out there and played great,” Snedeker said. “They made a ton of putts and I feel like our guys hit a bunch of great putts and just couldn’t find the bottom of the hole.
“You’re going to have sessions like this in these things. I feel terrible for the guys because I know they grinded out there and gave me everything they had out there today.”
"It's not even halftime of a football game. There's a lot of golf left"
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 25, 2026
U.S. Team Captain Brandt Snedeker on what he will tell his team tonight after an International sweep ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LpMaWiY0hx
Let’s take a look at the winners and losers from Friday’s action.
Losers: Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns
Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, and his good friend Sam Burns, the No. 8 player in the world, were the first pairing out on Friday and hoped to set the tone for Team USA. Instead, they suffered a stunning 1-up loss to Nick Taylor and Corey Conners. Burns had a chance to tie the match on the 18th hole but his birdie putt lipped out, giving Taylor and Conners the win and a huge point for the International team.
Heartbreaking lip out for Sam Burns 💔
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 25, 2026
Conners/Taylor win the match 1 UP pic.twitter.com/lb2eBVvCHz
Scheffler’s struggles in team events were a big talking point heading into this week and those concerns will only grow after Friday’s result. He’s now 4-6-1 in Presidents Cup matches and 3-6-3 in the Ryder Cup. Scheffler and Burns were only able to win three holes against Taylor and Conners, which is just unacceptable for two of the top players on the planet.
Taylor and Conners led 1-up heading into the 18th hole and it looked like they gave Scheffler and Burns a great chance to tie the match after Taylor’s poor tee shot found the right rough. Conners then chipped their second shot out onto the fairway and Taylor redeemed himself with an incredible appoac shot that almost went in.
Stones‼️
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) September 25, 2026
After blowing his tee shot on the 18th hole miles right, Nick Taylor steps up and does this.
Takes down the WN1 and Burns. pic.twitter.com/cG50oJbjig
Losers: Justin Thomas and Cameron Young
Thomas teamed up with rookie Jackson Koivun on Day 1 and rolled to the biggest margin of victory in the opening session. On Friday, he did the opposite as he and Young, who played together last year at the Ryder Cup last year, got crushed by Adam Scott and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 3-and-2.
Thomas and Young had only one birdie on Friday, which came on the last hole of the match.
Losers: Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman
Henley and Bridgeman both sat out Thursday’s session and were hoping to get out of the gates quickly on Friday but were only able to win one hole (the second) and had just two birdies in their 3-and-2 loss to Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im. Bridgeman is the best putter on the PGA Tour but was a surprising captain’s pick by Snedeker. His play on Friday will have lots of people wondering if he should be on this team.
Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im defeat Russell Henley and Jacob Bridgeman 3&2 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Xu9Wt4pIpD
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 25, 2026
Loser: Colin Morikawa
Morikawa was paired up with Wyndham Clark again after rolling to a win on Thursday, but the duo was unable to find the same magic on Friday, as they lost to Ryan Fox and Min Woo Lee, 1-up.
Morikawa’s putter went cold at the worst of times as he missed three key putts on holes 15, 16, and 17 that allowed Fox and Lee to take the lead and then hold on for the win with matching pars on the 18th hole.
Winners: The entire International team
This was an impressive performance by every player who teed it up for the International team on Friday. But it wasn’t the first time they’ve swept a session at the Presidents Cup.
The International Team wins all five matches in round two Foursomes.
— PGA Tour Communications (@PGATourComms) September 25, 2026
This is the seventh time a team has swept a session at the Presidents Cup and third time by the International Team.
2026, Round Two, Foursomes, Int. 5-0
2024, Round Two, Foursomes, Int. 5-0
2003, Round Four,…
Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim teamed up again and rolled to a 4-and-3 win over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim are inevitable.#PresidentsCup | #IntlTeampic.twitter.com/T0KKGo8Go7
— Presidents Cup (@PresidentsCup) September 25, 2026
Adam Scott and Christian Bezuidenhout never trailed in their 3-and-2 win over Justin Thomas.
DRAINO 🫨
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 25, 2026
Christiaan Bezuidenhout knocks in the long range birdie to defeat Thomas/Young 3&2 pic.twitter.com/pdV5ovrSkQ
Throw in the wins by the other three International pairings and it was just and incredible day that now has them shockingly in control of the Presidents Cup heading into the weekend.
"When you get a lot of your team up on the leaderboards...it inspires all the groups" 🧹
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 25, 2026
Geoff Ogilvy is proud of his team following a five match sweep ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/mUAAYzlnap
Buckle up, the final three sessions should be a ton of fun.
MORE GOLF FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
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- Presidents Cup Day 1 Winners and Losers: Team USA’s Next Big Star Comes Up Huge
- Scottie Scheffler’s Performance in Team Events Shrinks Gap Between Team USA and Team International
- Why All the Pressure Is on the Star-Studded U.S. Team at the Presidents Cup
