KEY POINTS:
MONTREAL - Steve Stricker and Scott Verplank earned the United States a valuable point in the face of a stirring fightback by the Internationals at the Presidents Cup on Saturday.
Stricker and Verplank clinched a tight fourball contest with Australian Adam Scott and K.J. Choi of South Korea 2&1 before the Americans ended the second day with a 7-5 lead.
The Internationals, five points behind overnight, won four of the six matches with one halved to close the gap going into Sunday morning's five foursomes at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
"As the day started to unfold, you could look at the board and see that the direction of the day was going in the favour of the International team," Stricker told reporters.
"We knew it was very important to try to sneak out a half a point at least, if not a full. We played well together and we were fortunate enough to get a point."
The US duo went two up after Stricker birdied the par-five sixth but they were twice pegged back to all square before taking control with six birdies between them on the back nine.
Scott had pitched in from 81 yards to birdie the 11th and tie the match but the Americans won the 14th and 16th holes with birdies before sealing victory with matching pars on the 17th green.
"We grind it out pretty well and we play pretty hard," said Verplank, who is making his second Presidents Cup appearance.
"We both scratch and claw and when you get guys together who almost enjoy doing that, then it makes for a good team."
Stricker, who emulated Scott by rolling in a seven-foot par putt at the 17th to end the match, added: "We just keep trying to move on.
"It's all about the team and getting as many points as you can, and that's what I've been focusing on."
- REUTERS
