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US team builds massive lead in Presidents Cup

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

The US swept the 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 and a half-7 and a half lead going into the 12 singles matches yesterday.

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 that filled the scoreboard with American red numbers.

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

Indeed, the International squad looked fried.

US captain Jack Nicklaus nodded his head and clapped his hands with each point moving the Americans closer to their first outright victory on the road in the Presidents Cup, and their first in any cup since winning the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in 1993.

Mickelson provided the most entertaining moment when his ball caromed off the hill and into a shallow spot in the water left of the 15th green. Austin, his partner in the fourball match, walked over to look at the situation and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, ``Your turn to give it a try.'' A day earlier, Austin lost his balance trying such a shot and wound up face-first in the water.

Mickelson borrowed the size-14 sneaker from his caddie to put on his left foot and go into the water. The ball tumbled back into the hazard, but at least Lefty didn't take the fall.
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