JERSEY CITY, New Jersey- - The United States stole an early march over the International team to earn a two-point lead after the opening day foursomes at the Presidents Cup at Liberty National on Thursday.
The U.S. won three of five matches, and halved another, to enjoy a 3-1/2 to 1-1/2 advantage in strong and gusty winds.
But it could have been even worse for the International team, because American veteran Phil Mickelson missed a six-foot putt at the final hole as he and partner Kevin Kisner halved with Australians Jason Day and Marc Leishman.
The International team has now lost the opening session six times in a row at the biennial event.
The American pair Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler drew first blood, thrashing Hideki Matsuyama and Charl Schwartzel 6&4.
The Americans also had an emphatic victory in match three as Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed thumped South Korean Kim Si-woo and Argentine Emiliano Grillo 5&4.
The International team suffered another disappointment when Australian Adam Scott and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela were edged 1-up by Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.
The result leaves Scott with more foursomes defeats, nine, than any player in Presidents Cup history. He is 4-9-1 in the alternate shot format. Scott also joins South African Ernie Els with a record 18 losses over all formats.
The International team did manage to salvage something from the other two matches as South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace continued their stellar partnership with a 3&1 win over Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger.
Oosthuizen and Grace paired up to win all four matches at the 2015 event.
In the final match, Day and Leishman recovered from a big early deficit to take the lead against Mickelson and Kisner.
But the Australians opened the door with bogeys at the final two holes, and were fortunate to escape with 1/2 a point.
The Cup continues on Friday with five four-ball (better ball) matches.
International captain Nick Price emphasised before the event the importance of a strong start, but that was easier said than done.
At the most recent Cup two years ago, the U.S. led 4-1 after the opening foursomes, setting the foundation for a one-point overall victory despite not winning any of the final four sessions.
The International team, comprised of players from the rest of the world except Europe, also trailed after the first sessions in 2013, 2011, 2009 and 2007.
The International team has only one overall victory (1998) and one tie (2003) in 11 stagings of the event.
