SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Weir kept seeing American red on the scoreboard Friday, a familiar portrait 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 new partner, Justin Leonard, and got the same result, closing out his match before reaching the 17th tee.
For the second consecutive day, the Americans were poised to take a comfortable lead. But thanks to a superb fairway metal from Weir, a clutch putt for 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 fourballs sessions wound up in a draw, the teams splitting the six matches. The American lead remained one point, 6 1/2-5 1/2.
“We watched the board a little bit and we knew all the of matches were within 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 took the final three holes for a 2-up victory over 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.
Woods and Stricker are the only players at Harding Park who have not trailed at any point over the first two days.
Stricker chipped in for birdie on the first hole, hit a wedge to 2 feet to take the lead for good on the par-5 fifth, and Woods made sure Geoff Ogilvy and Angel Cabrera never got close on the back nine.
Garcia tied for lead in Spain
MADRID — Sergio Garcia shot a 5-under-par 67 and David Drysdale had a 65 for a 13-under 131 and share of a one-shot lead after the second round of the Madrid Masters.
The Associated Press
