U.S. regains control at Presidents Cup

Partners Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk and the rest of the U.S. team rebounded from a tough day by dominatingthe Saturdayfoursome matches to take a commanding14½-7½ lead over the International team at the Presidents Cup in Montreal.

The International side faces a daunting task Sunday, needing to win 10 of 12 singles matches to walk away with the Presidents trophy.

Overwhelmed by Vijay Singh and Stuart Appleby in a 5-and-4 four-ball rout Friday afternoon, Woods and Furyk returned to Royal Montreal Golf Club to beat Ernie Els and Adam Scott 4 and 3 in alternate-shot play.

"We've got to keep our guard up and keep going," said U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus, whose team won 5½ of a possible six points Thursday before seeing its lead cut to 7-5 on Friday.

Woody Austin and Phil Mickelson also had a convincing win in brisk, sunny conditions Saturday morning, beating Appleby and Retief Goosen 5 and 4. The victory was Mickelson's first in his last nine international matches dating to the 2005 Presidents Cup.

"Things don't look too good," said International captain Gary Player. "The egg is not sunny-side up. But you never know."

Canadian Mike Weir and partner Singh fell 2 and 1 to Lucas Glover and Scott Verplank, the 2001 Canadian Open winner at Royal Montreal.

In other matches, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan held off Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman 2-up, and David Toms and Zach Johnson beat Geoff Ogilvy and Nick O'Hern 2 and 1.

In the afternoon best-ball matches, Furyk and Stewart Cink defeated Angel Cabrera and K.J. Choi 1-up. Mickelson and Austin, U.S., halvedtheir match withScott and Goosen.

Weir and Els handled Glover and Charles Howell III 4 and 2. Singh and Appleby edgedStricker and Mahan 1 up. Woods and Toms disposed of O'Hern and Ogilvy 5 and 3.

On Sunday, Weir squares off against Woodsin what will be the most anticipated singles match of the day.

"This week has been special," Weir said. "I'm playing as good of golf as I've played in my career pretty much."