Scottie Scheffler has responded to Brandt Snedeker’s decision to leave him out of the United States team for Saturday afternoon’s foursomes session at the 2026 Presidents Cup.
Scheffler had just helped Team USA secure a crucial four-ball victory alongside Sam Burns when Snedeker made the surprise decision to split the pairing and give the world No. 1 the afternoon off.
The four-time major champion had produced a timely birdie on the 15th hole to level his match before Burns delivered key shots on the 16th and 17th to help the Americans secure a 2-and-1 victory.
Despite the momentum, Snedeker opted to keep Burns in the lineup, pairing him with Wyndham Clark, while Scheffler was left to watch from the sidelines.
Scheffler revealed that he was comfortable with the captain’s decision and appeared more than willing to use the afternoon to rest and support his teammates.
“Yeah, our team is a great team, and I’m looking forward to going out and supporting the guys,” Scheffler said. “Yeah, it’ll be fun this afternoon, and yeah, cheer them on, get a little rest.”
The decision came after a difficult opening stretch for Scheffler and Burns at Medinah. Team USA entered Saturday trailing 7-3 after the International team swept all five foursomes matches on Friday.
Scheffler and Burns eventually fought back against Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune, overcoming several changes in momentum before closing out the match 2 and 1.
However, Scheffler’s record in team events has been a talking point. Before the 2026 Presidents Cup, he had a combined 6-11-4 record across the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, while his foursomes record stood at 1-7-0. His defeat alongside Burns on Friday added another loss to that record.
Snedeker explained that his decision was partly about taking some pressure off the world No. 1.
“Scottie Scheffler has the weight of world on his shoulders carrying Team USA and it’s time for us to carry him for a session,” Snedeker said. “It was a tough call — that’s probably why my heads still spinning. But we’re doing our best to get these guys in a good situation.”
Scheffler’s father has also previously spoken about the pressure his son faces in team competitions. According to comments discussed on the Rex & Lav podcast, Scott Scheffler said his son needs to relax and approach team events more like a normal round of golf.
That pressure has been particularly significant given Scheffler’s status as the world’s top-ranked player and one of the leading figures on Team USA.
For now, however, Scheffler appears to have accepted Snedeker’s decision without controversy. He planned to spend the afternoon supporting his teammates, including Burns, before turning his attention to the final day of the Presidents Cup.
The bigger question will be whether the rest helps Scheffler return refreshed for Sunday’s singles, where every available point could prove crucial for Team USA.
