The United States takes a Big Lead Going into the Sunday Matches

The United States started the day with a 2 point lead over the International squad, but ended the day with a 7 point lead thanks to winning all of the morning alternate shot rounds. The suprise pairing of the week has to be Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin, though, who have played well together. They started out by winning a half a point on Thursday, but today was the day that they showed what they really could do. In the Morning alternate shot round they won 5 & 4 capped off by a birdie on 14 by Phil. Then in the afternoon best ball round they found themselves in a battle with Retief Goosen and Adam Scott. The match was close throughout with the Internationals finding themselves with a one up lead on the 16th when Goosen holed out from a bunker to give them a two up lead with two to play. This is when Austin and Mickelson stepped up to the plate. On the par three 17th they both hit it close and Woody Austin holed his birdie putt to win the hole. Then they moved to the 18th needing to win again to halve the match. Retief Goosen hit a terrible drive and was out of the hole from the begining, and Woody Austin hit his approach over the green. This left Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson to battle it out. Adam Scott was on the fringe and lagged his birdie putt close to force Phil to make his 20 foot putt to win the hole and halve the match. After reading the putt with the help of Woody and his caddy Jim "Bones" Mckay Phil stepped up and knocked the putt in to secure half a point. I think that this pairing really works because of their camraderie. Before the President's Cup I wasn't much of a Woody Austin fan, but after watching him have so much fun with Phil I think that I will root for him a little more. It has been great to see Phil have so much fun playing in the President's Cup. Overall the United States has a 14.5 point to 7.5 point lead over the International squad, and I expect them to win easily on Sunday.