SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker produced a spectacular late comeback to beat Mike Weir and Tim Clark one up as United States dominated the morning foursomes to seize control of the Presidents Cup yesterday.

After staging gritty recoveries on the first two days, the International team could not conjure any late magic this time as the Americans won three of the five matches and halved another to open a 10-7 lead heading into the afternoon fourballs.

Two of the PGA Tour’s smallest men, South African Clark and Canadian Weir, looked set to play the role of giant-killers, leading Woods and Stricker from the fifth hole and taking a one-up advantage to the 17th.

However, an inspired Woods sank a 22-foot birdie putt on the 17th to square the match and trigger a roar from the crowd and a screaming double-fist pump from the world number one.

Woods then sent a dagger into the hearts of International hopes when he put his three-iron approach within nine feet of the pin at the par-five 18th to leave Stricker, one of golf’s top putters, an eagle chance.

Weir then conceded the eagle putt to the Americans after missing his birdie attempt from 30 feet.
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“It was fun to watch,” said Stricker who has partnered Woods to win all three of their matches this week. “I had a front row seat for that.

“That was pretty cool,” he told reporters. “But we all know what he (Woods) does and he stepped it up when he had to. It was pretty impressive.”

The first point of the day went to the U.S., world number two Phil Mickelson and Sean O’Hair thrashing South African Retief Goosen and Colombian Camilo Villegas 5&3.

Mickelson has led the American charge from the front, being sent out first for every session by captain Fred Couples and delivering three wins with different partners.

Justin Leonard and Jim Furyk overcame South African Ernie Els and Australian Adam Scott 4&2 before the Internationals registered their only win, Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa and South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun beating Kenny Perry and Zach Johnson 3&2.

Stewart Cink and Hunter Mahan completed a good morning for the U.S. at a chilly and overcast Harding Park, a birdie at the 18th earning a half with Fiji’s Vijay Singh and Australian Robert Allenby.