Kim Si-woo and Cameron Davis combined to defeat the paring of world number one Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns, but that was the International team's only win.

Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay started the day with a six-and-five victory over Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott and it was a sign of things to come in North Carolina.

Japan's Matsuyama and Australia's Scott are the International team's most experienced players, both major winners and Matsuyama the team's highest-ranked golfer - so the heavy loss held added significance.

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas overcame Canada's Corey Conners and South Korean Im Sung-jae two and one next.

Cameron Young and Collin Morikawa saw off South Korean paring Tom Kim and Lee Kyoung-hoon by the same score.

Australia's Davis and South Korean Kim Si-woo won their match's final four holes two jump from two down to two-up winners, but the stirring comeback was all International captain Trevor Immelman had to smile about.

Tony Finau and Max Homa won the final foursome - versus Chile's Mito Pereira and the Canadian Taylor Pendrith - on the final hole.

A wayward drive by the Chilean proved costly and a par gave the US a one-up win.

The Americans lead 4-1 after day one, with 15.5 points needed to win the Presidents Cup.

The International team represents the rest of the world, minus Europe, and has lost eight straight Presidents Cups.