The American players in their red shirts sat on one side of the 18th green in gathering darkness Saturday, hopeful that Fred Couples could make an 8-foot birdie putt for their first lead in the Presidents Cup. Watching from the other side were the International players in gold and black.
It was similar to the scene two years in South Africa, and so was the score.
Tied.
After 22 matches over three days, the Americans and Internationals showed their strengths in a stellar display of golf at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., that set the stage for a dynamic conclusion today.
Chris DiMarco emerged as the star with a hole-in-one in the morning and more birdies than he can count in the afternoon, teaming with PGA champion Phil Mickelson in two victories that never saw the 16th tee.
Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk staged two comebacks, with birdies on the last two holes to scratch out a halve against Stuart Appleby and Vijay Singh, then a late surge from Woods to beat them in the afternoon.
Retief Goosen and Adam Scott were as formidable as ever.
All that remained were 12 singles matches today to decide a Presidents Cup that is so evenly matched, the captains refused to rule out the possibility of another tie.
“We played three days, four rounds of golf, and we are dead even,” U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus said. “We’ve got two teams that are so even, it’s unbelievable. What’s going to happen tomorrow? Who knows?”
A spectacular Saturday of golf concluded when Couples missed his putt and had to settle for a halve with Davis Love III against Michael Campbell and Angel Cabrera in their better-ball match.
Each team had 11 points, the first time the Presidents Cup has been tied going into Sunday since it began in 1994
“I think tomorrow is a toss-up,” Mickelson said. “The International team is very strong, 12 of the best players in the game. They are extremely tough and are playing some extremely good golf. I feel the American team is playing exceptional golf, as well. I have faith in my team. But we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Woods will face Goosen in the third match, while Couples will take on Singh in the fifth match. Mickelson and DiMarco anchor the U.S. team, facing Cabrera and Appleby in the final two matches.
Woody Austin took the third-round lead in the Texas Open in San Antonio, shooting a 3-under 67 in 100-degree heat and wind gusting to 30 mph as the edge of Hurricane Rita roared by about 150 miles to the east.
The 41-year-old Austin made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 13-under 197 on the LaCantera Golf Club’s Resort Course. Robert Gamez (68), Mark Wilson (66) and Dean Wilson (70) were tied for second.
Austin began the round two strokes behind Dean Wilson and was as far back as five shots on the back nine. The two-time PGA Tour winner rallied with an eagle on the 536-yard, par-5 14th – hitting his 203-yard approach to 2 feet – and two-putted from 80 feet on No. 16 for another birdie after driving the green on the 348-yard hole.
Houston-area resident Jeff Maggert (70) was two strokes back along with J.J. Henry (66), Bob Heintz (69) and John Senden (70).
Denver resident David Duval, a former top-ranked player who made his first cut this year, shot a 70 to finish 10 strokes back at 3 under.
European PGA: Playing captain Colin Montgomerie and Nick Dougherty beat Thomas Bjorn and Henrik Stenson 1-up to help Britain and Ireland take a 9 1/2-8 1/2 lead over Continental Europe in the Seve Trophy.
In other afternoon foursome matches on the The Wynyard Club’s Wellington Course in Billingham, England, Britain and Ireland’s Paul Casey and David Howell beat Miguel Angel Jimenez and Emanuele Canonica 2 and 1, Britain and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley halved with Thomas Levet and Jean-Francois Remesy, and Continental Europe’s Niklas Fasth and Henrik Stenson edged Bradley Dredge and Ian Poulter 1-up.
