Jim Furyk drew first blood for the US in the singles today to give the Americans a chance of preventing the Internationals from clinching their second Presidents Cup.
US Open champion Furyk, producing pinpoint accuracy off the tee, beat Masters winner Mike Weir of Canada 3 and 1 in the first match out, with the U.S. up in five of the remaining 11 encounters still out on the course.
"Hopefully, it turns out to be real important," said Furyk. "Mike's a tough competitor and we're good friends, but I played a real good round out there today."
The Internationals, who completed an unprecedented clean sweep in Saturday's six fourballs, needed only five points from the 12 on offer on the final day but were ahead in only three matches and all square in three.
World number one Tiger Woods was eclipsing Ernie Els in their much-awaited contest, a run of three birdies from the 494-yard fourth putting him two ahead of the big South African with 11 holes to play. Cup rookie Charles Howell III was four up on Australia's Adam Scott after 12, and in-form Kenny Perry was three clear of Zimbabwe's Nick Price after 13.
Jay Haas, a 49-year-old veteran of the inaugural Presidents Cup in 1994, was three up on Stephen Leaney of Australia with seven holes to play and Davis Love III, in the final match, was one up on another Australian, Robert Allenby, after six.
Leading the last-day charge for the Internationals, who have never before won the Cup singles, was twice major winner Vijay Singh. The tall Fijian, the hottest player in the game over the last three months, was three up on 2001 U.S. PGA champion David Toms after eight holes, having birdied one, four, five and six.
Also ahead for the Internationals were South Korea's K.J. Choi and Australia's Peter Lonard. Choi, a wildcard pick by team captain Gary Player, was two up on Justin Leonard after 12, having forged four clear of the 1997 British Open champion after 10 holes before faltering with bogeys on 11 and 12.
Lonard was two ahead of Fred Funk with eight holes remaining.