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Americans Take Large Lead At Presidents Cup

The Associated Press

Published: September 30, 2007

MONTREAL - Phil Mickelson showed Tampa native Woody Austin how to stay dry, and the Americans blew the International team out of the water Saturday in the Presidents Cup to build the largest lead in seven years.

The United States pitched a shutout in five alternate-shot matches in the crisp morning, then turned back an International rally with one of its own to split the afternoon fourballs and build a 14 1/2 -7 1/2 lead entering today's 12 singles matches.

Mickelson and Austin combined to birdie their last two holes to steal a half-point, Tiger Woods recorded two blowouts with different partners, and Stewart Cink made all the clutch putts to turn a loss into another point.

It now appears that for the second time in three weeks, the Sunday chase for a cup will be anticlimactic. Woods basically wrapped up the FedEx Cup at East Lake before the weekend arrived, and only the greatest comeback in Presidents Cup history will keep this event from turning into a snoozer at Royal Montreal.

'It's not over,' International captain Gary Player said. 'But things don't look too good. The egg is not sunny-side up.'

PGA: At Madison, Miss., David Branshaw of Tampa shot a 3-under-par 69 to lead by two strokes after three rounds of the Viking Classic, with a crowd of 17 golfers within six shots of him going into the final day.
Bill Haas had a 70 and was in second place while Chad Campbell moved into contention with a 64 that left three strokes behind at 10 under. He was tied with Shaun Micheel and Johnson Wagner, both shooting 68s.

LPGA: At Prattville, Ala., Lorena Ochoa, seeking her fourth consecutive win, shot a 3-under-par 69 and overtook Stacy Prammanasudh on the last hole to take a one-stroke lead into the final day of the Navistar LPGA Classic.

Prammanasudh, who carried a three-stroke lead into the day, three-putted for bogey on the 18th hole.

Ochoa moved to 13 under with a bogey-free round and a second straight strong finish on Capitol Hill's Senator Course.

SEVE TROPHY: At Killenard, Ireland, Continental Europe clung to a 9 1/2 -8 1/2 lead after Britain & Ireland rallied in the foursomes. The tournament ends with 10 singles matches today.

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