Golf: Americans hang on to take lead

The USA have won the opening four-ball session 3.5-2.5 over the Internationals at Muirfield Village Golf Club but it was the visitors who claimed momentum in the 10th Presidents Cup after digging themselves out of a mammoth hole.

USA dominance in the event looked set to continue as they led all six matches for the majority of the session before an International fight back ensured they enter day two in striking distance.

Jason Day drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to ensure he and Canadian Graham DeLaet won 1up over Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker.

``It's exciting. Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to hit the big, clutch putts and it was great to have that chance to hit that putt,'' Day said.

The Australian/Canadian combination won the opening hole but were three down by the sixth and seemingly in huge trouble.

Day pegged two of the holes back on the seventh and eighth and then the Canadian tied the match on the 15th with a birdie before taking the lead with a crisp iron into the par three 16th which led to another birdie.

They stumbled on the 17th when DeLaet missed a short putt but Day's heroics on the last ensured the full point.

South African duo Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen were the other International duo to earn an outright point for their side, defeating Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley 2&1.

Two down through seven, the South Africans came back strongly to get another vital win.

Adam Scott and Japanese rookie Hideki Matsuyama never led in their match but grabbed a half point after the 20-year-old Matsuyama had a tap-in birdie on 18 that saw things all square with Bill Haas and Webb Simpson.

The match was an absolute belter with both sides 11-under on the round.

Down two with four to play, Scott holed out a chip shot for eagle on the 15th before Matsuyama made birdie on 16 to draw level.

Like the Day/DeLaet team before them they dropped the 17th but the rookie showed nerves of steel to clinch the half on the last.

Marc Leishman's Presidents Cup debut didn't go the way he would have liked as he and Argentine partner Angel Cabrera were destroyed 5&4 by world No.1 Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar.

- AAP