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Unstoppable Woods and Stricker keep US in front

Internationals team member Angel Cabrera of Argentina hits out of a bunker on the 15th hole during the Presidents Cup fourball matches at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, California, on Friday. PHOTO: AFP

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker remained unstoppable on Friday, notching their second straight dominant victory in the Presidents Cup as the US posted a 6.5 to 5.5 lead.

A day after teaming up for an emphatic victory in the foursomes, they were just as impressive in a 5 and 3 four-ball rout over Geoff Ogilvy and Angel Cabrera.

Stricker generally adopted the more conservative game plan, firing safely for the heart of the greens, which gave Woods a chance to aggressively attack the pins.

The Americans always had at least one ball in play and never gave the Internationals a chance, leading from the very first hole.

“Steve and I gel well together and in this format you have to make a bunch of birdies, and we did for most of the day,” Woods said.

“Hitting first, I felt a lot of times I should put it on the side of the green and let the great iron play [of Woods] take over,” Stricker said. “That’s what I found myself doing a lot, aiming away [from any danger], so at least he could feel comfortable taking dead aim and knowing I was going to get at least a par. It’s tough when you’ve got the best player in the world and he’s such a great iron player. You just don’t want to get in his way at times.”

British golfer Oliver Fisher hits a shot during the second round of the Madrid Masters in Spain on Friday. PHOTO: EPA

Stricker, however, said he was enjoying his partnership with the 14-time major champion.

“It has been a lot of fun. I’m very comfortable with him out there and I think he’s comfortable with me. I think we enjoy each other’s company,” he said.

“You don’t throw the baby out with the bath water, but you want to get rid of the bath water so the baby can swim the next couple of days and be OK.” — Greg Norman, Internationals captain at the Presidents Cup

That’s good, because American captain Fred Couples had no hesitation keeping Woods and world No. 3 Stricker together for the foursomes, when Canadian Mike Weir and South African Tim Clark will have the dubious distinction of taking them on.

“Until they get tired of each other, they will play again and again and again,” Couples said.

Internationals captain Greg Norman likened the duo to a “buzzsaw,” one that Ogilvy has run into twice in two days.

Ogilvy and Japanese teen Ryo Ishikawa went down 6 and 4 to Woods and Stricker in the foursomes.

Ogilvy, who looked to be struggling by the end of Friday’s match, was to sit out the foursomes.

Norman said that was a decision he and Ogilvy made together.

“Geoff’s played a lot of golf of late,” Norman said. “Quite honestly, he was beaten up a lot, too. He was against Tiger and Stricker for two straight days. He just got into a buzz saw. You don’t throw the baby out with the bath water, but you want to get rid of the bath water so the baby can swim the next couple of days and be OK. I think it was just a good move for him to say that it was time for him to take a rest.”



■MADRID MASTERS

AFP, MADRID

Home favorite Sergio Garcia shared the midway lead at the Madrid Masters after posting a second-round score of 67 on Friday.

He was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Scotland’s David Drysdale, who followed his opening-round 66 with a 65 to join Garcia on 13-under 131.

The Spaniard learned of golf’s successful application to become an Olympic sport in 2016 during his round at Centro Nacional and afterwards he voiced his desire to play in the next three Olympic Games.

“If I stay in shape, I probably have three chances,” he said. “I’m thrilled and excited about the possibility. There’s still a long way to go, but I’m going to try to stay healthy. This is a very special day. We’ve been fighting for a year now to get it in and it feels good.”

Three players trail the leading pair by a shot, with England’s Ross McGowan, Irishman Gary Murphy and Emanuele Canonica of Italy all finishing day two on 12-under.
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