Golf: Campbell sinks putt to give Internationals lead

New Zealand's Michael Campbell sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to give the International team a 3-1/2 2-1/2 lead over the United States after day one of the Presidents Cup golf competition today.

Campbell and his playing partner Angel Cabrera of Argentina beat Davis Love and Kenny Perry 2 and 1 in the final foursomes match of a tight first day at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

The pair were 2-up going into the 17th before Perry applied the pressure by sinking a long birdie putt.

But last week's World Match Play winner Campbell responded after an accurate approach from Cabrera, sinking the putt to halve the hole and clinch the match.

"It's incredible how he (Cabrera) putted so well on the back nine. We holed a few crucial putts and luckily I was able to finish it off on the 17th. We made a good team," Campbell said.

Cabrera said he asked International captain Gary Player if he could partner Campbell.

"I know Michael well, I played with him on the European Tour and I said to the captain, 'I want to play with Michael'."

The Internationals made a flying start with Australia's Adam Scott and South Africa's Retief Goosen beating world No 1 Tiger Woods and Fred Couples 4 and 3.

The other big winners for the Internationals were South Africa's Trevor Immelman and Canada's Mike Weir who beat David Toms and Stewart Cink 6 and 5.

In other matches, Fred Funk and Jim Furyk halved with Fiji's Vijay Singh and Australian Mark Hensby, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco beat Australia's Nick O'Hern and South Africa's Tim Clark 1-up while Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank beat Australian pair Peter Lonard and Stuart Appleby 4 and 2.

- NZPA