Internationals rebound at Presidents Cup

The International team gave the Americans a taste of their own medicine during the second day of the Presidents Cup Friday at Royal Montreal.

Led by the team of Vijay Singh and Stuart Appleby, the Internationals narrowed the U.S. team's overall lead to 7-5, a performance that seemed unlikely after dropping 5½ of a possible six points Thursday.

Singh and Appleby combined to give Tiger Woods the worst match-play defeat of his career, playing 14 holes of better ball at 11-under to finish off the world's No. 1 player and teammate Jim Furyk 5 and 4.

Woods had never suffered such a lopsided defeat in any of his previous Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup matches.

"We needed some sanity today," said Appleby. "We got totally cleaned [Thursday]."

Singh and Appleby's efforts seemed to spark the rest of the team. Mike Weir, of Bright's Grove, Ont., and Ernie Elshad the crowd buzzing. The Canadian lefty drained seven birdies in 17 holes to help beat Charles Howell III and Zach Johnson 3 and 1.

"He played some just amazing golf today," Els said of his teammate.

Despite questions regarding his selection to the team, Weir is now 1-0-1 for the event.

The Montreal fans sang spontaneous versions of O Canada while Weir walked the fairways, prompting one spectator to askWeir's wife Bricia for an autograph.

"I couldn't ask to play much better,"Weir said.

In other matches, Retief Goosen and Angel Cabrera reached the 18th hole all square with Americans Phil Mickelson and Hunter Mahan, but an 11-foot birdie by Cabrera secured a 1-up victory.

Nick O'Hern and Geoff Ogilvy defeated the U.S. pair of Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover 1-up after Ogilvy made a four-foot putt.

Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini halved their match with Americans Wood Austin and David Toms.

The only win for the U.S. came when Steve Stricker and Scott Verplank defeated Adam Scott and K.J. Choi 2 and 1.

In the end, the International team took 4½ of six points for the day.

"We knew we had to dig deep today," said Weir. "I think people were counting us out a little quickly."