But U.S. team still rolls to 4-2 lead in alternate shot
Fred Couples and Tiger Woods have lots of U.S. players to thank. There would be plenty of questions after Woods and Steve Stricker were dealt a 7 and 6 alternate-shot loss in the Presidents Cup Thursday at Royal Melbourne. The margin matched the most decisive in event history.
But the U.S. leads the competition over the International team, 4-2, thanks to the five other teams, which managed to salvage at least a ½ point. Hunter Mahan and David Toms dominated Koreans K.T. Kim and Y.E. Yang, 6 and 5. Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson rolled past Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa, 4 and 2. And Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk captured a 4 and 3 victory over Robert Allenby and Retief Goosen.
The overall success of the U.S. team removed some of the pressure from Woods-Stricker, who were humbled by Adam Scott and K.J. Choi. In 12 holes, Woods and Stricker didn’t make a birdie and didn’t win a hole, finishing in 3-over. Meanwhile Scott-Choi didn’t make a bogey, finishing with birdies on the last two holes and four for the day.
Woods, a much-criticized captain’s choice of Couples, didn’t play well. But Stricker was worse, showing plenty of rust in his first event in nearly two months. Stricker has been bothered by a herniated disc in his neck.
“We were just slightly off,” Woods said. “On a golf course like this, it doesn’t take much.”
The only other Presidents Cup match decided by a 7 and 6 margin was David Frost’s singles victory over Kenny Perry in the 1994 inaugural.
