Presidents Cup: USA captain Jim Furyk splits up Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay pairing in opening fourballs

Australian Adam Scott is hopeful of finally earning a first Presidents Cup win as part of the international team after 21 years and 10 previous appearances – nine of which ended in defeat, with one tie; watch the Presidents Cup live on Sky Sports Golf from September 26-29

United States captain Jim Furyk says the decision not to pair Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay together in the opening fourballs of the President’s Cup was made in the best interests of the team.

The Ryder Cup-style tournament which sees the US take on a non-European international side begins in Montreal, Canada on Thursday with five fourball matches.

Schauffele and Cantlay are close friends and played two ties together in last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome, while they also won two of three contests when paired together in the USA’s 2022 Presidents Cup victory.

However, Furyk has decided to put world No 2 Schauffele with Tony Finau in the opening match against Jason Day and Byeong Hun An, while Cantlay is partnered with Sam Burns against Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners.

Furyk said: “We are trying to maximise our 10 guys on the course, trying to maximise our potential, get the five groups out there on the golf course.

Talking to my assistants and the statistical guys, there are a number of different reasons.

“We know they [Schauffele and Cantlay] play all their practice rounds together, they are great friends, they get along very well.