Internationals maintain narrow advantage

The International team finished the second day of the Presidents Cup with a 6 ½ - 5 ½ lead over the U.S., even though Tiger Woods finally ended his long wait for a fourball win in the event on Friday.

World number one Woods battled with a sore back as he and his partner Jim Furyk, who had been doubtful for the fourballs with strained rib muscles, claimed a gritty 3 and 2 victory over Australians Stuart Appleby and Mark Hensby.

Leading -3 ½ - 2 ½ after Thursday's foursomes, the International team maintained their one-point advantage over the hosts after each side registered two wins while two of the six matches were halved.

Woods needed treatment on his back throughout the day, but his sublime form enabled him to fire seven birdies in 16 holes at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

It was the 29-year-old American's first fourball win in seven attempts in the Presidents Cup.

"Today we went out there and gelled as a team and put a lot of pressure on them," Woods said.

"It's just a matter of keeping it pain-free and loose where I can swing the golf club which wasn't exactly easy today."

Despite their physical ailments, Woods and Furyk have been scheduled for duty on Saturday morning, pairing up in one of the five morning foursome matches that will be followed by five fourball matches in the afternoon.

The duo will take on world number two Vijay Singh of Fiji and Appleby.

"They are playing tomorrow morning," U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus confirmed.

"I don't need to say anything more than that, they are ready to go.

"They will be fine."

Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank provided the Americans with another full point with a 2 and 1 triumph over Canadian Mike Weir and South African Trevor Immelman.

South Africa's Refief Goosen and Australia's Adam Scott, who beat Woods and Fred Couples in the foursomes, again blazed a trail for the Internationals.

Goosen and Scott went four up after six holes before holding off a determined comeback bid from Couples and David Toms to record a 3 and 1 win.

Australians Peter Lonard and Nick O'Hern beat Davis Love III and Kenny Perry 3 and 2 for the International team's other full point.

U.S. PGA champion Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco staged a late rally to halve their match with U.S. Open winner Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Argentina's Angel Cabrera, who had been two up with four to play.

Singh and South African Tim Clark also settled for a halve with Fred Funk and Stewart Cink.

Having laboured through foursome play on Thursday with strained rib muscles, Furyk's fitness had been the big question mark on Friday but it was Woods's condition that ended up causing the most concern.

Furyk's participation in the four-ball was not confirmed until just prior to their scheduled tee-off time, but by the fifth tee it was Woods who was grimacing in discomfort, suffering with muscle spasms just below his left shoulder blade.

The U.S. Masters and British Open champion received treatment throughout the day, trainers pressing ice packs to the world number one's back as he walked up the fairways and waited on the tees.

When play was delayed for 90 minutes late in the round due of dangerous weather, both Woods and Furyk returned to the locker room for more treatment.

After a slow start to the day, the U.S. had been on the charge just prior to the rain delay and picked up where they left off when action resumed.

DiMarco drained a clutch 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th to square his match sending the teams to the 18th with everything to play for.

Campbell nearly stole the point when his chip from the greenside fringe lipped the cup then rolled out to complete the first match just as the heavy rains swept across the course.

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