Impressive start for U.S. at Presidents Cup

The Americans have begun the Presidents Cup with a near-flawless performance, collecting 5½ points from the six-alternate-shot matches Thursday at Royal Montreal.

It was the most lopsided start since the U.S. shutout out the Internationals 5-0 in 2000. The damage could have been worse if not for the kind nature of American captain Jack Nicklaus.

Mike Weir, of Bright's Grove, Ont., and Fiji's Vijay Singh were the onlypair from the International side to avoid defeat.

Theyhalved their match with Phil Mickelson and Woody Austin, but only after Nicklaus suggested to the Americans to concede a short putt for par on the 18th hole.

Nicklaus's generosity assured the International squad its only point of the day.

"We played a good match," Singh said. "Unfortunately, we didn't pull it off. But a halve is better than a loss."

During the anxious battle, both sides missed the green on the final hole with the match all even. Faced with a difficult shot in the sand, Mickelson managed to get his ball to within 12 feet of the hole, while Weir chipped to within three.

Austin drained his par putt when the match was conceded before Singh attempted his four-foot putt.

"I think that Phil and Woody made the right decision," Nicklaus said. "They both felt that Mike had played a good match. And Mike being a Canadian and being here, [they felt] it was the right thing to do.

"And I'm glad they did."

The gesture was reminiscent of Nicklaus's famousconcession of a putt around the same distance to Tony Jacklin during the 1969 Ryder Cup, allowing that match to end in a draw.

Weir was pleased with the way the match ended and appreciated the conceded putt on the final hole.

"That didn't surprise me at all with Jack," he said. "I guess I'm a little old fashioned that way. It's a gentlemen's game. … There shouldn't have been a winner or loser [in the match]. Both sides played like winners."

Woods has strong round

In the other matches, Tiger Woods, the world's No. 1 golfer, and teammate Charles Howell III earned a 3-and-1 victory over K.J. Choi and Nick O'Hern. Woods carried his team most of the day, but Howell drained some key putts on the back nine.

Steve Stricker, who made his first Presidents Cup appearance in 11 years, teamed with rookie Hunter Mahan to defeat Australians Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy 3-and-2.

Ernie Els missed a five-foot putt on the 18th green that would have gave him and Angel Cabrera a half-point against David Toms and Jim Furyk.

Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson won the final hole to win 1-up over Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman.

Lucas Glover and Scott Verplank made a par from the bunker to win 2-up over Retief Goosen and Stuart Appleby.

While the Americans hold a seemingly large lead, Woods warns the event is far from complete.

"We're a long ways away from the end of this thing, there are so many points available," he said. "Second session [Friday], you know they are going to come out with some of their best pairings and top guys out early and try to turn this thing around.

"We need to still go out there and play well and get our points."