Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and world number two Xander Schauffele sparked the United States to a 5-0 sweep over the Internationals in Thursday's opening four-ball matches at the Presidents Cup.

The Americans, who lead the all-time rivalry 12-1-1, seized command in quest of a 10th consecutive victory in the series against a collection a global talent from outside Europe.

"I'm happy for the guys. Right now all smiles," US captain Jim Furyk said. "Tough matches – our guys played great on the back nine. It came down to a lot of putts."

Schauffele and Tony Finau beat South Korean Ben An and Australian Jason Day 1-up while Scheffler and Russell Henley defeated South Koreans Tom Kim and Im Sung-jae 3&2 at Royal Montreal.

Keegan Bradley, the 2025 US Ryder Cup captain, curled in a 19-foot birdie putt at the 18th to close out the fifth session sweep in Cup history with a 1-up win with Wyndham Clark over Canada's Taylor Pendrith and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

"It was just unbelievable," Bradley said. "To be around the guys and see how into it they are, it's inspiring for me."

Friday will feature five foursomes matches, with four matches in each format on Saturday ahead of Sunday's 12 concluding singles matches.

The Americans, who have won 10 times when leading after the first session, boast 12 of the world's 25 top-ranked players.

Scheffler and Henley never trailed but faced a battle. Scheffler and Kim tied the par-3 seventh, par-4 10th and par-5 12th holes on birdies and Henley birdied from two feet to win 14 and 20 feet to win 15 to give the US duo a 3-up edge.

"It was a fun match. We did some good stuff out there," Scheffler said. "Russell and I did a good job of keeping the pressure on them most of the match. Russell stepped up big there on 14 and 15."

Schauffele made sure the Americans won the first match for the fifth Presidents Cup in a row and eighth time in nine Cups. (AFP)