Internationals retain lead

The International team retained a one-point lead over the United States after the second day of the Presidents Cup.

Honours were even in the six fourball matches, with the Internationals winning two, the US winning two, while two were halved at the Robert Trent Jones Club.

The Internationals lead 6 1/2-5 1/2 going into the weekend, but with 22 points still up for grabs, it is a tenuous lead at best. Tiger Woods finally ended his drought in fourballs, teaming up with Jim Furyk to beat Stuart Appleby and Mark Hensby three and two.

Woods, who had lost his six previous Presidents Cup fourball matches, shrugged off back spasms to produce the sort of golf that makes him the world’s best player.

International partners Adam Scott and Retief Goosen won for the second consecutive day, dusting off Fred Couples and David Toms two and one.

Perhaps the most dramatic match finished all square, as Americans Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco escaped with half a point against Michael Campbell and Angel Cabrera, after being two down with four holes to play. Campbell nearly won it on the last hole, but his 20-foot putt for birdie from off the green caught the hole and lipped out.