Americans take lead in Presidents Cup

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim ignited an American rally Thursday that gave the United States a one-point lead after one day of the Presidents Cup.

The International Team grabbed an advantage in the first four of the six foursomes matches played Thursday at the Harding Park course, then saw the Americans move into position to take a substantial lead.

Two short missed putts by Lucas Glover and Justin Leonard, however, left the United States with only a 3 1/2-2 1/2 cushion.

There will be 28 more matches contested through Sunday in the eighth playing of the Presidents Cup, which the United States has won five times.

Mickelson and Kim were 1-down to Tim Clark and Mike Weir going to the 13th hole, but the U.S. twosome won four straight holes for a 3 & 2 victory. Kenny Perry and Zach Johnson birdied four of the last five to defeat Angel Cabrera and Camilo Villegas 2-up.

Glover and Stewart Cink came back from a two-hole deficit to pull even with Vijay Singh and Robert Allenby with two holes to play. Glover then missed a 4-foot putt on the 17th hole and the International Team pulled out a 1-up victory.

Leonard and Jim Furyk also rallied from three holes down to take a 2-up lead with two to go, but lost them both and let Retief Goosen and Y.E. Yang pull out a halve. Leonard missed a 3-footer for birdie at the par-5 18th hole that would have won the match.

In the only one-sided contest of the day, Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker overwhelmed Geoff Ogilvy and Ryo Ishikawa 6 & 4. Adam Scott and Ernie Els won a point for the International Team with a 2 & 1 decision over Hunter Mahan and Sean O'Hair.