Fancourt, Nov 23: Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen won a tight battle with world number one Tiger Woods and Charles Howell III 2 and 1 after finishing with five consecutive birdies, Singh coaxing in a birdie at the par-three 17th to clinch the win. Defeat left Woods winless after six fourball appearances at the Presidents Cup, while he has won only twice in six fourball matches in the Ryder Cup. Zimbabwe's Nick Price and Stuart Appleby of Australia birdied three of the last four holes to beat Davis Love III and David Toms in another close encounter.
Appleby had put the Internationals one up by holing a bunker shot for eagle at the par-four 14th, and made the match safe by holing a birdie putt at the par-five 16th. U.S. Masters champion Mike Weir and Australia's Robert Allenby produced flawless golf to go four up on Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard with six to play, but had to survive a strong finish by their opponents before winning by a hole.


The Americans, bidding to win the Presidents Cup for the fourth time in five editions, had begun the day three points clear after winning seven of the 10 matches played on Friday (November 21).


The trophy will be decided over the closing 12 singles matches on Sunday (November 23), with both sides chasing a minimum of 17-1/2 points for victory.


Results of Saturday's fourball matches (United States pairs first): Fred Funk/Phil Mickelson lost to Peter Lonard (Australia)/Stephen Leaney (Australia) 2 and 1 Jim Furyk/Jay Haas lost to Ernie Els (South Africa)/Tim Clark (South Africa) 3 and 2 Kenny Perry/Jerry Kelly lost to Adam Scott (Australia)/K.J.Choi (South Korea) 5 and 4 Tiger Woods/Charles Howell III lost to Vijay Singh (Fiji)/Retief Goosen (South Africa) 2 and 1 Chris DiMarco/Justin Leonard lost to Mike Weir (Canada)/Robert Allenby (Australia) 1 up Davis Love III/David Toms lost to Nick Price (Zimbabwe)/Stuart Appleby (Australia) 2 and 1 Internationals 12.5 points United States 9.5.

Bureau Report