Golf Presidents Cup: The Internationals recovered from trailing in four of the six opening foursomes yesterday to take a lead of 3½ points to 2½ over the holders on the first day of the Presidents Cup in George, South Africa.
Although the Internationals moved 2-1 ahead early on, the US appeared to be in control, winning the second foursomes match out and staying ahead in three others.
But the Americans, traditionally weaker in the alternate-shot format, were outplayed down the stretch in two of the last three matches as the Internationals took first-day honours for the second time in five editions.
"We had a good shot at being 5-1 today and we ended up 2½ to 3½," said non-playing US captain Jack Nicklaus. "That's disappointing obviously, but it was also very good golf played by Gary's team down the stretch." Gary Player, captaining the Internationals for the first time, was delighted by his team's fightback.
"At one stage, we would have settled for a 4-2 result," he said. "We were in trouble, but we pulled the rabbit out of the hat today."
Former major winners Retief Goosen of South Africa and Fiji's Vijay Singh provided early cheer for the Internationals, beating American rookies Jerry Kelly and Chris DiMarco 3 and 2.
But the Americans levelled at 1-1 when Davis Love III and Kenny Perry outplayed Australia's Peter Lonard and South African Tim Clark 4 and 2. Love sealed the win by chipping in for eagle from just off the edge of the 16th green.
Nick Price and US Masters champion Mike Weir then clinched a gripping encounter for the Internationals, twice coming back from two down and collecting birdies on 17 and at the last to edge out David Toms and Phil Mickelson by a hole.
However, the Americans, who won the 2000 Presidents Cup by 21½ points to 10½ at Lake Manassas, Virginia, once again levelled, world number one Tiger Woods and Charles Howell III outclassing Australian Stuart Appleby and South Korea's KJ Choi 4 and 3.
US Open champion Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard seemed to have their match against Ernie Els and Australia's Adam Scott in control, and were two ahead with three to play. But the Americans succumbed to the pressure and the fast-finishing Els and Scott birdied the final three holes to triumph one up.
FOURSOMES (US pairs first)
D Toms and P Mickelson lost to N Price (Zim) and M Weir (Can) one up
C DiMarco and J Kelly lost to R Goosen (RSA) and V Singh (Fiji) 3 & 2
D Love III and K Perry bt P Lonard (Aus) and T Clark (RSA) 4 & 2
J Leonard and J Furyk lost to E Els (RSA) and A Scott (Aus) one up
J Haas and F Funk halved with R Allenby (Australia) and S Leaney (Australia)
T Woods and C Howell III beat S Appleby (Australia) and K J Choi (S Kor) 4 & 3
TODAY'S FOURBALLS
Mickelson and Toms v Weir and Allenby
Perry and Love III v Goosen and Choi
Furyk and Haas v Appelby and Scott
DiMarco and Leonard v Singh and Price
Woods and Howell III v Els and Clark
