The United States roared in to a record 5½-point lead over the International team after the opening-day foursomes at the Presidents Cup on Thuresday.

The Americans made just about the perfect start, winning five matches and halving the other on a bleak day for the Internationals at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec

Four matches were very close, finishing on the 18th hole - but that was little consolation to Gary Player’s International team, a collection of the best players from outside Europe - even if they didn’t look like it coming down the stretch.

Even in the only match the Americans did not win, they had a heroic touch abloutn them.

Woody Austin - who played with Phil Mickelson - sank a 13-foot putt to finish all square with Mike Weir and Vijay Singh.

US No 1 Tiger Woods played solidly with partner Charles Howell III to beat his Australian matchplay nemisis Nick O’Hern and Korean star KJ Choi 3 & 1.

And in the USA’s other wins, Presidents Cup first-timer Hunter Mahan and Steve Stricker beat the Australian duo of Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy 3 and 2, Stewart Cink and a second new cap and Masters champion, Zach Johnson, edged South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman 1-up, David Toms and Jim Furyk squeezed past the International team’s No 1 Ernie Els and US Open champion Angel Cabrera to win 1-up and yet another Cup debutant, Lucas Glover, and Scott Verplank beat the seasoned Australian-South African pairing of Stuart Appleby and Retief Goosen 2-up

“Our guys were sensational today,” a beaming US captain Jack Nicklaus said afterwards - despite the fact that he could have expected his team to be in front.

The US has traditionally dominated the opening day foursomes in the Presidents Cup

In the seven Cup clashes played to date, it holds a 27-11 advantage after the first day of competition.

On the last occasion they held such a large first-day lead, the Americans went on to thump the Internationals by a record 21½-10½ at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, but no one, least of all Nicklaus and Woods, expects a hiding of that proportion this time

“We’re a long ways away from the end of this thing. There are so many points (28) still available,” said Woods.

“In the Second session tomorrow, you know they are going to come out with some of their best pairings and top guys early and try to turn this thing around,” the World No 1 added.

Said Nicklaus: “If you would say if this is what I expected the results to be, I would say no. But am I happy with them? Absolutely I’m happy with them. Our guys played well. They played well down the stretch.

“Time after time, they just did what they were supposed to do ..Could have gone either way, though There’s a lot of golf to be played. We’ve got a full, a four-round tournament in front of us, so a lot of things can happen.”

The matches were all tight and spirited, but in each case the Americans came up with the greater resolve.

Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin didn’t win, but they underlined the US determination by winning four of their final seven holes to halve their match with Singh and Weir.

Austin - one of four American new caps made critical putt after critical putt, never more so than when making that final 15-footer for par at the 18th hole that gave the comeback American pairing their half - and this after sportingly conceding the 4-footer that faced Singh and stood between a total wipeout of his team.

“I think Phil and Woody made the right decision there,” said Nicklaus.

“They both felt that Mike had played a good match and Mike being a Canadian and being here..well, that it was the right thing to do.”

Scott said the International Team was frustrated, but had not been defeated by Thursday’s events.

“I don’t think we were so much down,” said the young Ausytralian. “Ticked off is more the word.

“If anything, it’s got people pretty fired up for tomorrow (Friday). … There’s stuff to sort out and a job to be done.

“If anyone was dragging their chin on the ground in there, he was told to pick it up quick and look forward to tomorrow.”

Day One results (USA unless stated):

Hunter Mahan & Steve Stricker bt Adam Scott & Geoff Ogilvy (International) 3 and 2

Phil Mickelson & Woody Austin halved With Vijay Singh & Mike Weir (International)

Stewart Cink & Zach Johnson bt Rory Sabbatini & Trevor Immelman (International) 1-up

David Toms & Jim Furyk bt Ernie Els & Angel Cabrera (International) 1-up Lucas Glover & Scott Verplank bt Stuart Appleby & Retief Goosen (International) 2-up

Tiger Woods & Charles Howell III bt K.J. Choi & Nick O’Hern (International) 3 and 1

Match score: United States 5 1/2 International 1/2

Source - www.sportinglife.com