DUBLIN, Ohio — The United States needed a par on the final hole to grab the overall lead over the Internationals on the first day of the Presidents Cup after almost throwing away a commanding advantage following a lengthy weather delay. Steve Stricker calmly parred the 18th hole to secure the decisive point that allowed the Americans to finish the opening fourballs leading by 3-1/2 points to 2-1/2. At one point, the Americans led in all six encounters at Muirfield Village Golf Club but South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel inspired a late fightback by the Internationals. Oosthuizen and Schwartzel came from two down after seven holes to beat British Open champion Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley 2&1 in a contest of high quality involving four former major winners. Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar earned the first point of the day for the US, hammering Argentina's Angel Cabrera and Australian Marc Leishman 5&4 in a match they led from the opening hole. Zach Johnson and PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner never trailed before beating South Africans Branden Grace and Richard Sterne 5&3 while Stricker and Jordan Spieth ended a birdie fest against South African Ernie Els and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge with a hard-fought 1-up win. However, the Internationals did well to salvage 1-1/2 more points from two of the earlier matches out. Australian Jason Day sank a 22-foot birdie putt at the last to seal a 1-up win in tandem with Canada's Graham DeLaet over Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker, after they had been three down after six holes. Adam Scott of Australia and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who never led and trailed by two with four holes to play, fought back to square their match against Bill Haas and Webb Simpson. The 21-year-old Matsuyama almost sank his approach at the last, his tap-in for birdie earning the Internationals a valuable half-point after they were clearly feeling the pressure in the matchplay format they prefer, as they have traditionally struggled in the foursomes. Internationals captain Nick Price felt he had gained a valuable concession with fourballs featuring in the opening Cup session for the first time since the 1996 edition of the biennial team competition, and had been hoping for a fast start. But it was the Americans who came charging out of the gate after former US President George W. Bush had greeted both teams before they teed off at the par-four first in front of packed grandstands. — AP
