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Follow the Presidents Cup live on Twitter Even though the Presidents Cup is a team competition, success remains dependent upon individual performances — and it would be difficult to argue that there were individual golfers better than Americans Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in Thursday's opening matches at San Francisco’s Harding Park Golf Course. Woods and Mickelson, who ended Septmeber's FedEx Cup playoffs 1-2 in the standings and were ranked 1-2 in the world entering the Presidents Cup, were instrumental in winning their matches against the Internationals by comfortable margins in the foursomes (alternate shot) round. Woods teamed with Steve Stricker to defeat Geoff Ogilvy and Ryo Ishikawa 6-and-4, while Mickelson paired with Los Angeles native Anthony Kim to top Mike Weir and Tim Clark 3-and-2. In six matches, the U.S. gained 3.5 points to 2.5 for the International team. The other American partnership to earn a victory was Kenny Perry and Zach Johnson, who bested Angel Cabrera and Camilo Villegas by a 2-up margin. Though the U.S. gained early momentum thanks to Woods and Mickelson, their edge was partially deflated when Justin Leonard missed a 14-inch birdie putt on the 18th hole that allowed Y.E. Yang and Retief Goosen to halve the match with Leonard and Jim Furyk. That putt was somewhat controversial, as there was some confusion about whether Goosen had conceded the putt, an action that would have given the American a full point. "I was a little confused about the whole thing, to tell you the truth," said Stricker, who was watching the match from beside the 18th green. "It kind of looked like [Retief] was going to give [the putt] to him." That outcome aside, the U.S. gained an early edge thanks to their two horses, Woods and Mickelson. Mickelson and Kim overcame a sloppy front nine with flawless play from the 10th hole on. The turning point came on the par-4 13th, where Kim stuffed a wedge to six feet and Mickelson made the ensuing birdie putt to square the match. Then, on the par-3 14th, Mickelson drained an 18-footer for birdie that gave the Americans a 1-up lead they wouldn’t relinquish thanks to two more birdies on the next two holes. “I was a little heavy on the front nine but [Mickelson] picked me up and fortunately I had some opportunities to perform on the last couple of holes,” said Kim, admitting nerves could have been a cause of wayward shots he hit on the front nine. Mickelson, a Rancho Santa Fe resident and San Diego native, is still singing the praises of accomplished golfer-turned instructor Dave Stockton Sr., who teaches with sons Ronnie and Dave Jr. at golf facilities in the Inland Empire. Stockton Sr. worked with Mickelson for two days in San Diego during the weekend prior to the Tour Championship, an event Mickelson won thanks largely to a stellar display of putting all week. Though Lefty didn’t feel all right with his flatstick for most of the opening match against Weir and Clark, he found a groove when it mattered most by draining three straight birdie putts, with the 18-footer on 14 providing the thunder between the shorter-range putts on 13 and 15. “I’ve been feeling so good with the putter coming in here,” he said. “I had a couple of looks early, didn’t get them to go and I felt like I was due. That putt on 14 was key for me.” Thursday’s most dominant display came courtesy of Woods and Stricker. That duo didn’t allow the pair of Ogilvy and 18-year-old Japanese phenom Ryo Ishikawa to win a single hole, capturing five holes with birdies and another with a par. Friday, the second day of the biennial competition between the U.S. and a team of International players from outside Europe, will consist of six four-ball (better ball) matches. Check back to Southland Golf tomorrow for continuing live coverage of the event from San Francisco. Here are the six four-ball matches for tomorrow, which begin at 10:55 a.m. Pacific Standard Time: U.S.: Phil Mickelson/Justin Leonard vs. International: Retief Goosen/Adam Scott U.S.: Jim Furyk/Anthony Kim vs. International: Ernie Els/Mike Weir U.S.: Kenny Perry/Sean O'Hair vs. International: Ryo Ishikawa/Y.E. Yang U.S.: Lucas Glover/Stewart Cink vs. International: Vijay Singh/Tim Clark U.S.: Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan vs. International: Robert Alleny/Camilo Villegas U.S.: Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods vs. International: Geoff Ogilvy/Angel Cabrera ALSO SEE: Southern California well represented at Presidents Cup Couples an ideal choice as U.S. Presidents Cup captain Woods, Mickelson, Kim named to U.S. Presidents Cup team |
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RSS SubscribeReaders Feedback:
Could their be any more volatile, run and gun pairing than Kim And Lefty? These guys were made to play without care. Why do anything that isn't improbable? It is always risky pairing these two, but spectators can certainly enjoy their craziness.
On the other hand, we have Leonard and Furyk, or lethargic and infuriating. Furyk will always find a way to lose, even if he needs help from Leonard to do so.
| Comment at 10/9/2009 |
You?ve got it in one. Cudlon?t have put it better.
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