U.S. edges International team in tight Presidents Cup opener

Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns finally won a match together on their fifth try, and it came at just the right time for an American team that hung on to win the opening session of fourballs Thursday in the Presidents Cup.

The Americans led 3-2, the ninth time in the last 10 Presidents Cup they won the opening session.

"A session win is a session win. We're going to take it any way we can get it," U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker said. "So happy for Scottie and Sam to go out there in that lead match and get that big win to lead us off. This is a long week. This is one session. We've got four more to go."

Five matches of foursomes are scheduled for Friday at Medinah Country Club.

Jackson Koivun also wasted little time getting a point on the board. The 21-year-old Koivun, who turned pro just over three months ago, teamed with Justin Thomas in a 4-and-3 victory over Corey Conners and Nico Echavarria, who managed only three birdies in the easier better-ball format.

Burns hit his approach to 2 feet for birdie on the 14th hole to square the match. The Americans took a 1-up lead when Min Woo Lee and Sungjae Im missed par putts on the 17th, and Scheffler hit a bunker shot to tap-in range to secure par and a full point on the 18th.

The Internationals picked up two wins behind Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune — the first time for two Japanese players in the Presidents Cup since 1998 — and Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim in the anchor match.

The Americans got their other win behind Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa, who never trailed against Adam Scott and Ryan Fox in a 3-and-2 win.

For so much of a cloudy afternoon at Medinah, two wins apiece looked certain for the Americans and the Internationals. Up for grabs was the opening match, which