Presidents Cup: The USA team edged into an early lead as play eventually got underway at the Presidents Cup in Montreal yesterday.
The start of the seventh Presidents Cup between the United States and the Internationals was delayed by half an hour because of heavy early morning rain.
Several greens at Royal Montreal Golf Club were saturated and organisers decided to give the greenkeeping staff more time to prepare the course for the biennial team competition.
Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan drew first blood for the United States in the opening foursomes with a 3 and 2 victory over Australian duo Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy.
The Americans raced three up after five holes and, despite twice having their lead trimmed to one, sealed victory at the par-four 16th where Stricker rolled in an 11-foot birdie putt.
"We got off to a good start, got up early and played well down the stretch," a beaming Stricker said.
Americans Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin trailed Vijay Singh and Mike Weir by one after 15 holes in a roller-coaster encounter.
And in a dramatic finish the US pair birdied the par-three 17th and holed a 15 footer at the last to end all square.
Holders the U.S. were up in three, and all square in the other four matches at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
Former major winners David Toms and Jim Furyk, producing sparkling golf, were three up on Ernie Els and Angel Cabrera of the Internationals after 13 holes.
The Americans went two ahead after a run of four birdies in the first eight holes, Toms having hit a superb approach to within a foot of the flag at the par-four eighth.
Furyk, the 2003 US Open champion, then rolled in an 18-footer to birdie the par-three 13th to stretch their advantage to three.
In the final match, world number one Tiger Woods and Charles Howell III were one up on Internationals duo K.J.Choi of South Korea and Australian left-hander Nick O'Hern with three holes to play.
South Africans Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman were level with Americans Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson after 14 holes and US pair Lucas Glover and Scott Verplank were all square with Australia's Stuart Appleby and South African Retief Goosen after 13.
The U.S. have dominated the first six editions of the Presidents Cup, winning four times including a thrilling victory in 2005 by 18-1/2 points to 15-1/2 in Lake Manassas, Virginia.
The only success for the Internationals came in 1998 when the event was staged in Melbourne.
In 2003, the two teams battled to a 17-17 draw in South Africa.
The Presidents Cup runs until Sunday as is expected to draw some 35,000 spectators to Royal Montreal.
Holders the U.S. have dominated the competition, winning four times including a thrilling victory in 2005 by 18½ points to 15½ in Lake Manassas, Virginia.
The only success for the Internationals came in 1998 when the event was staged in Melbourne. In 2003, the two teams battled to a 17-17 draw in South Africa.
FOURSOMES (US first): S Stricker, H Mahan bt A Scott, G Ogilvy (Aus) 3 and 2; P Mickelson, W Austin halved with V Singh (Fiji), M Weir (Can); S Cink, Z Johnson bt R Sabbatini, T Immelman (Rsa) 1 up; D Toms, J Furyk v E Els (Rsa), A Cabrera (Arg) US 1 up/17; L Glover, S Verplank v S Appleby (Aus), R Goosen (Rsa) US 1 up/17; T Woods, C Howell III v KJChoi (Kor)/N O'Hern (Aus) US 1 up/15.
