If a team could “win” Presidents Cup prep week, the players who will be representing the International side at Medinah sure did make a show of it Thursday at the BMW PGA Championship.
Adam Scott, the 46-year-old Australian who will be the oldest of all 24 players in the biennial competition, posted a 5-under 67 at Wentworth Club to sit one shot off the lead heading into Friday’s second round.
The 2013 Masters winner wasn’t flashy down the stretch, saving par again and again on his back nine before running into his first bogey of the round at the par-5 17th.
And then came his laser of an approach shot at 18, where Scott set himself up with an eagle attempt. That double circle was not meant to be but he did nail down his sixth birdie of the day on the ensuing putt.
“I know I’m going to have to dig deep to hang in there this week,” said Scott, who told reporters he made a driver change ahead of this week.
“Mine kind of broke leading into here,” he revealed. “So a new one went in and that’s working nicely. But [driving] is the key to Wentworth. If you’re in the fairway, you can create some opportunities. If you’re not, it’s a long day out there.”
Sitting one behind Scott on the leaderboard is Presidents Cup teammate Ryan Fox, who will be making his International Team debut outside of Chicago.
Fox, the 2026 Open champion and New Zealand native, carded a 4-under 68. He sits T-7 with a slew of players — Patrick Reed, Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland among them — with 54 holes still to go.
As for Scott, he shares third with three others. American Ryan Gerard, one of the most notable snubs left off Brandt Snedeker’s roster, was the first player in the club house a 5 under. Scott joined him, next was Ludvig Åberg. Nacho Elvira added his name to the mix late.
If Scott had connected on the late eagle attempt, he would have shared the lead with Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren.
“It would have been great to make the putt, but it was a bit of a bit of a slider and I kind of hit it a bit too weak,” Scott said of his work around the greens at 18. “But, you know, keep making swings like that.”
“Like I said, the opportunities will come. I can take a few. And, you know, to be in the mix here on Sunday would be so fantastic. It’s one of my favorite events. Love being here. So I’d love to have a shot at it.”
Across the pond
It’s worth noting that this story hasn’t been fully written yet as the PGA Tour’s inaugural Biltmore Championship has members from both teams in its 132-player field this week.
Americans Jackson Koivun and Jacob Bridgeman are playing in that event and were the listed favorites heading into the tournament.
Koivun and Bridgeman will be competing against a quadrant of International players — Ryo Hisatsune, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Nick Taylor, and Corey Conners — they will see again next week.
Presidents Cup primer
The Presidents Cup tees off Thursday, September 24, with Golf Channel providing “Live From” coverage on site at Medinah beginning Monday.
International Team captain Geoff Ogilvy tapped Scott for his 12th Presidents Cup, which ties Phil Mickelson for most appearances in tournament history by any player.
Scott, who already held the record for most times on the International roster, holds the all-time record for career points won by an International Team player.
