Americans edge ahead of Internationals in Cup

South Korea's Kim Kyung-Tae drained a pressure putt at the last hole to earn a crucial victory over Tiger Woods in their four-ball match on the third day of The Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Saturday. The win keeps the International team in the hunt after defending champions the United States shaded a gripping marathon day to take a four-point lead into the deciding singles. The Americans dominated the morning foursomes 4-1 to lead by five points heading into the afternoon four-ball, but Greg Norman's Internationals fought back in the rain to win 3-2 and shave the deficit to 13-9 heading into Sunday's final 12 singles. Leading the fightback were the Internationals' three South Koreans -- K.J. Choi, Y.E.Yang and Kim -- who between them earned two vital points to keep their team's hopes alive. Kim drained a pressure five-foot par putt at the last to earn a crucial one-up victory with Yang over Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, while Choi shared in a one-up victory with Australian Geoff Ogilvy. The US team will be favourites to claim their seventh Presidents Cup, with the Internationals bidding for only their second success since their 1998 triumph at this week's Royal Melbourne venue. "We won the session today. When you look at the four-ball compared to the alternate shot, you can see where the balance of our power really sits," Norman said. No team trailing into the singles matches have gone on to win The Presidents Cup. In 2003 the United States trailed 12.5 to 9.5 heading into the singles and fought back to tie the competition Resuming with a two-point advantage, the Americans won four of the five morning foursomes to take charge ahead of the four-ball matches. Woods claimed his first point of the match play tournament, while the Phil Mickelson/Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson pairings remained unbeaten after three matches. But while the Americans were on top in the morning, it was the Internationals who charged back in steady afternoon rain in the four-ball after Friday's brutal blustery conditions. "I was a bit nervous playing against Tiger, especially because I haven't been playing well the last two days," Kim said. "I've felt a lot of pressure but because we had the morning off, I think it helps conditioning wise, and I think I got used to the course. "I also think that at the tail end, we trusted each other. That's probably the main reason why we won." Choi putted resolutely in a one-up victory with Ogilvy over Steve Stricker and Matt Kuchar for the Internationals' third point in the four-ball. "Today was up and down with the weather and we had to stay calm and patient and did a good job making birdies," Choi said. "On the back nine, we were putting very well and we came in with the win." South African pair Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel were four-up with five holes to play but Goosen twice missed winning putts before they ended the winning run of rookie Americans Watson and Simpson two and one. "Me and Charl played solid from the first few holes and got up on them early on," Goosen said. "Then I got spooked the last few holes and couldn't get a ball in the hole, but luckily we finished it off." Hunter Mahan holed a magnificent 22-footer downhill for birdie to claim a two and one win with Bill Haas over Australians Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day. "This has definitely The Ryder Cup atmosphere," Mahan said. "It was difficult. It was tough. We grinded. "Boy, it was a lot going on today. This is an Australian team we were playing today, we heard it all day and to make it like that feels good." Furyk and Nick Watney fought off Australian Adam Scott and South African Ernie Els to win the final crunch match one up after being two holes ahead at the 14th. "We needed those two points really bad and they got them for us," US team captain Fred Couples said. "Because this team was rallying and playing some great golf in that junk (rain), but our guys somehow won the last two groups."