Scheffler-Kim spat as US surge to 5-0 lead

Scottie Scheffler and South Korea’s Tom Kim were involved in a spat as the United States swept to a 5-0 Presidents Cup lead over the International team.

World number one Scheffler and partner Russell Henley beat Kim and Im Sung-jae 3&2 as the Americans won all the opening fourballs in Canada.

Tempers flared after Kim celebrated a 27-foot birdie putt at the par-three seventh with a fist-pump and shouted “let’s go”.

Scheffler responded with his own birdie to halve the hole and yelled: “What was that?” towards his friend.

Kim celebrated strongly again when he sunk a long putt to birdie the eighth and then controversially left the hole for the adjacent ninth tee before Scheffler’s birdie attempt, which he missed.

“They took gamesmanship too far and over the line on sportsmanship and lost some integrity,” US assistant captain Kevin Kisner told the Golf Channel.

Sky Sports golf pundit Paul McGinley called it “disrespectful” but Kim said: “There was no reason to stay there and look at him putt. It doesn’t help us at all.

“It wasn’t trying to be cheap or do anything like that. We were focused on our own game.

“He’s a good friend. But at the same time, this week I don’t like him. I want to beat him so bad, and I’m sure he feels the same way.”

Masters champion Scheffler suggested Kim had “poked the bear” but sought to play down their exchange.

“I would have done the same thing back at home. It’s all in good fun. We’re friends after. We’re not friends during,” he said.