MONTREAL – A gloomy morning, a subdued opening ceremony, and a quiet Canadian crowd could not dampen the spirits of the Presidents Cup as it finally ignited with thrilling action.

Enter Tom Kim, the quintessential spark plug of the tournament. His long putts, adrenaline-fueled celebrations, and infectious energy were reminiscent of his breakout performance in 2022. He was on fire, showcasing what makes him not just a player but a motivator for his team.

However, things escalated quickly when Scottie Scheffler matched Kim’s intensity. After sinking a critical birdie on the seventh hole, Scheffler looked Kim in the eye, yelling, “What was that?!” proving he was not in the mood to back down.

Kim responded in kind on the following hole, securing another birdie while giving an exuberant celebration that seemed to provoke Scheffler further. It became clear that this was not merely a game; it was personal. International assistant captain Camilo Villegas attempted to quell the rising tension by sending Kim and partner Sungjae Im ahead to the ninth green. Yet, Scheffler appeared unfazed, focusing solely on his putting routine.

Partner Russell Henley, however, registered a hint of discontent over what he perceived as an unsportsmanlike gesture. “Yeah, it bothered me a little bit,” he remarked.

The back-and-forth between the assistants escalated, with U.S. assistant Kevin Kisner raising the flag of concern. He deemed the gamesmanship “bush league,” and this clash of egos highlighted the palpable intensity of the match.

Emerging from the turmoil, Scheffler and Henley utterly dominated the remaining holes, racking up four more birdies and delivering a 3-and-2 victory. Their performance not only forged ahead for the U.S. team but marked their first opening-day sweep in a staggering 24 years.

On the flip side, the International team seemed to falter under pressure. Rather than harnessing the drama created by the verbal brawl, they appeared to shrink in the moment. Despite Kim being vocal about his fearlessness against Scheffler, he couldn't shake the unease that seemed to tie him down over the final stretches.

“It’s tough playing against someone you’re very close with,” Kim expressed, acknowledging Scheffler’s dominance and the high stakes of this competition.

As the matches unfolded, U.S. players like Xander Schauffele enjoyed more success, wrapping up their games with undeniable strength. Schauffele himself later commented on the earlier incident, observing that it looked as though Kim had “poked the bear” that is Scottie Scheffler.

The focus turned back to the U.S. team as Collin Morikawa and Keegan Bradley delivered winning performances while Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns remained unwavering.

After entering the week anticipating a turnaround for the International squad, they now find themselves facing a punishing early deficit. The Americans have maintained an impeccable record after winning their opening session, and with a commanding 5-0 lead—something not seen since 2000—things are looking bleak for the Internationals as they move onto the historical challenge of the foursomes format in upcoming days.

International captain Mike Weir, though disappointed, urged his team to remain focused. “You’re down, but there’s a long way to go; still significant sessions left,” he said pragmatically, emphasizing resilience.

With stakes higher than ever, the Internationals must harness the competitive spirit shown earlier and strive to make a comeback before the tide turns definitively against them. Will they seize the opportunity, or will the Americans continue their reign of dominance? Hockey comparisons and sportsmanship aside, one thing is for certain: fierce competition and drama await!