Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer reproduced their Ryder Cup form for the second day running to secure a one-point lead for the Rest of the World in the UBS Cup.
The duo, unbeaten at The Belfry last year, slipped back into the old routine and made it two wins out of two in the vital final fourballs contest today.
A 2&1 victory over Ray Floyd and Bruce Lietzke meant Tony Jacklin's side held on to their one point overnight lead going into tomorrow’s 12 deciding singles, and keeps them on course for a first victory in the Ryder Cup-style event for over 40’s.
American captain Arnold Palmer (74) and Curtis Strange, supposedly "sacrificial lambs", sparked an upset when they beat Jacklin and Nick Faldo 4&3 in the opening match of the day.
Hale Irwin and 2004 Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton then completed a 5&3 win over Ireland’s Des Smyth and Rodger Davis to put the home side ahead in the contest for the first time.
It looked as though Mark O'Meara and Craig Stadler would make it three wins in the first three matches when they led Carl Mason and Bill Longmuir by two holes with three to play. But the British duo, who finished first and second on the European Seniors Tour this season, birdied three of the last four holes to snatch victory, Mason sealing the win with a 20-foot putt on the 18th.
Argentina's Eduardo Romero and Vicente Fernandez secured their second crushing win of the week, seeing off Tom Watson and Rocco Mediate 5&3 mainly thanks to six birdies in the first eight holes.
However, Brad Faxon then made an outrageous par on the 18th after carving his second shot 30 yards wide of the fairway, snatching victory for himself and Scott Hoch over Ian Woosnam and Barry Lane.
But Montgomerie and Langer held their nerve to seal victory despite only making two more birdies in the fourballs than they managed in yesterday's foursomes.
Palmer's decision to change five of his six pairings from the opening day looked set to pay richer dividends throughout the day. Five-time Open champion Tom Watson admitted he and Strange "stunk up the joint" in their opening-day defeat, while Palmer referred to himself and Strange as today's "sacrificial lambs".
The 74-year-old Palmer even got in on the act with a birdie on the 10th after Jacklin had briefly reduced the gap to one hole, and said: "I managed a birdie on the 10th but otherwise it was great just to walk around and watch Curtis.
Overall: USA 5½ Rest of the World 6½
Results of Saturday's matches in the UBS Cup, Sea Island, Georgia
Fourballs
Match 1
Arnold Palmer & Curtis Strange beatTony Jacklin & Nick Faldo 4 & 3
Match 2
Mark O'Meara & Craig Stadler lost by 1 hole toCarl Mason & Bill Longmuir
Match 3
Hal Sutton & Hale Irwin beatDes Smyth & Rodger Davis 5 & 3
Match 4
Brad Faxon & Scott Hoch beatBarry Lane & Ian Woosnam 1 hole
Match 5
Rocco Mediate & Tom Watson lost 5 & 3 toEduardo Romero & Vicente Fernandez
Match 6
Ray Floyd & Bruce Lietzke lost 2 & 1 toColin Montgomerie & Bernhard Langer