U.S. up big at Presidents Cup; Tiger finally wins

Melbourne, Australia – Tiger Woods finally got his first win at the Presidents Cup Saturday as the U.S. took four out five foursomes matches to up a big lead at Royal Melbourne.

Woods teamed with Dustin Johnson to beat Adam Scott and K.J. Choi, 3 & 2.

Woods, a captain's pick by Fred Couples, was the only American without at least a half-point heading into Saturday's five foursomes matches. He and long-time partner Steve Stricker got waxed Thursday by Scott and Choi and Woods and Johnson lost Friday to Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day.

Woods' victory punctuated a great session for Couples' American side. The U.S. leads 11-6 with five four-ball matches on tap for the afternoon and the 12 singles on Sunday.

The first team to 17 1/2 points wins the Presidents Cup and the U.S. has won the last three stagings.

The best American team showed its mettle in the first match again on Saturday.

Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson led off for the third straight day and for the third straight day, they gave the U.S. team a full point. On Saturday, they beat Robert Allenby and Geoff Ogilvy, 3 & 2.

The next point came from the American tandem of Hunter Mahan and David Toms. They toppled Retief Goosen and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, 5 & 4.

Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa finally got on the board and gave the International team its only full point in the foursomes. They beat Bill Haas and Matt Kuchar, 1-up, and got some degree of redemption, especially Ishikawa.

The pair lost both of their matches to Watson and Simpson the first two days and Ishikawa arrived late to the competition and played poorly. He made a pair of clutch late putts to get his team a full point.

Woods and Johnson then put another point up for the Americans.

The last full point came from Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk. They overcame a 2- down deficit at the turn and bested Baddeley and Day, 2 & 1. Mickelson and Furyk are also a perfect 3-0 in this Presidents Cup.

NOTES: Mickelson and Toms are sitting out the four-balls for the U.S., while Ishikawa and Allenby are down for the Internationals...Play was contested under a steady rainfall on Saturday.