SAN FRANCISCO — The United States built a quick lead Thursday in the Presidents Cup with a dominant performance from Tiger Woods and former Illini Steve Stricker and a large surge by Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim.
Woods and Stricker played bogey-free in the difficult alternate-shot format, making four birdies on the opening six holes to build a big lead and closing out Geoff Ogilvy and 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa on the 14th hole when Woods made a 15-foot birdie for a 6-and-4 victory.
Woods improved his foursomes record to 8-2-1.
Mickelson and Kim came to life late for a 3-and-2 victory against Mike Weir and Tim Clark.
The International team failed to make a single birdie at Harding Park yet still had a 1-up lead through 12 holes when Kim hit a wedge to 3 feet for birdie to square the match, the first of three straight holes they won.
Two years ago at Royal Montreal, the United States didn't lose a foursomes match on opening day and built a five-point lead. This time, the International team was putting up a fight.
It led in two other matches, with the Americans leading one still on the course and the other match all square
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