Golf | U.S. keeps one-point lead at Presidents Cup

SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Weir kept seeing U.S. red on the scoreboard Friday, a familiar sight at this Presidents Cup.

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker were dominant in a different format, winning so handily they were the last match to tee off and among the first to finish. Phil Mickelson had a different partner and got the same result, closing out his match before reaching the 17th tee.

For the second consecutive day, the U.S. team was poised to take a comfortable lead.

Thanks to a superb fairway metal from Weir, a clutch putt for an eagle on the final hole by Tim Clark and another late rally by the International team, this Presidents Cup is far from over.

The Americans were ahead in five of six matches at some point on the back nine. The four-ball sessions wound up in a draw, the teams splitting six matches. The U.S. lead remained one point, 6 ½-5 ½. Seattle native Fred Couples is the American captain.

"We watched the board a little bit and we knew all the of matches were within one or two, except for a couple of them, so we knew if we could turn it around ... there's still a lot of golf to play," Weir said.

Weir and Ernie Els won the final three holes for a 2-up victory over Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim, the clinching shot by Weir from the base of the bleachers and onto the green at the par-5 18th for an eagle that was conceded.

"That was one of the better ones I've hit in a long time," Weir said of his shot.

Clark rolled in a 15-foot eagle as he and Singh won the last two holes for a 1-up victory over Lucas Glover and Stewart Cink.

"It certainly didn't look good there for a while," Clark said. "When you come out of a day like that tied — and obviously, only one point back now — we are feeling good. It seems like most of the close matches that have come down to the last couple of holes, we've been able to salvage a halve or even win a point, which is huge."

Of the five matches that have gone the distance, the International team has picked up 3 ½ points.

The International team still doesn't have an answer for the Americans' best three players, though.

Woods and Stricker are the lone players at Harding Park who have not trailed at any point over the last two days, and they have yet to play the 16th hole in competition.

Mickelson teamed with Kim in foursomes Thursday, and had Justin Leonard at his side in four-balls for a 3-and-2 victory over Retief Goosen and Adam Scott.

Other tournament

• Sergio Garcia of Spain shot a 5-under 67 and David Drysdale of Scotland had a 65 to share a one-shot lead after the second round of the Madrid Masters in Spain.

Garcia and Drysdale were at 13-under 131 for 36 holes.

Emmanuele Canonica (65) of Italy, Ross McGowan (66) of England and Gary Murphy (65) of Ireland were at 132.