Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker’s partnership continued to flourish as they helped the United States take a 6.5 – 5.5 lead at the end of the second day of the Presidents Cup on Friday.
World number one Woods and Stricker defeated international pairing of Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Argentinean Angel Cabrera decisively by 5 and 3 in San Francisco. Stricker’s cautious approach was complimented by Woods’ aggressive mentality as he attacked the pins to help the duo to a consecutive win after their opening victory over Ogilvy and Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa. Stricker admitted the contrast in styles between the two was the recipe for success at the Harding Park Golf Course. “Hitting first I felt a lot of times I should put it on the side of the green, to tell you the truth, and let great iron play take over,” he told the PGA Tour Web site.
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“And that’s what I found myself doing a lot is aiming away and trying to put it in the center, so at least he could feel comfortable taking dead aim and knowing that I was going to get at least a par. “It was difficult, from yesterday to today, it’s a different format, but we’ve been doing well and hopefully we get back at it again tomorrow. “It’s been a lot of fun and hopefully we continue with it, and it was a good day. We helped each other out along the way, and Tiger played great coming down the stretch as always and it was a good day.” Woods added: “I think Steve and I gel well together and in this format you have to make a bunch of birdies and we did for most of the day.” Elsewhere, Phil Mickelson and Justin Leonard beat South African Retief Goosen and Australian Adam Scott 3 and 2, while Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan carded a 2 and 1 victory over Australian Robert Allenby and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas. Canadian Mike Weir and South Africa Ernie Els were on top for the international side as they beat Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim while Asian pair Yang Yong-Eun and Ryo Ishikawa recorded an emphatic victory, downing Kenny Perry and Sean O’Hair 4 and 3. South African Tim Clark hit a final-hole eagle as he and Fiji’s Vijay Singh defeated Lucas Glover and Stewart Cink to claw back vital points for the international team. A marathon third day features five foursomes and five fourballs, before Sunday’s concluding 12 singles matches.
