Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard, Jerry Kelly made sure there was no repeat of the opening session, when the International team rallied on the final three holes of the final three matches to take the lead.

Woods provided a few anxious moments. Playing for the third straight time with Charles Howell III, Woods missed a 4-foot birdie putt on the 16th in the alternate-shot format, and their 4-up lead with five holes to play was down to 1 up.

Retief Goosen hit a beautiful second shot into 15 feet on the par-5 18th, but Tim Clark's eagle putt to halve the match turned away.

Howell chipped to 4 feet, and Woods needed this one to win the match. He studied it hard, and buried the putt.

"I don't know if I could have lived that one down if I missed that one," Woods said.

The other three American victories in alternate-shot weren't even close.

Justin Leonard, who had not won a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup match since 1996, won his second of the day by teaming with Jim Furyk in a rout, 5 and 4, over Masters champion Mike Weir and Vijay Singh.

Kenny Perry won his third match -- the only undefeated American -- teaming with Kelly for a 2-and-1 victory over K.J. Choi and Peter Lonard.

David Toms and Fred Funk had an easy time with Robert Allenby and Stephen Leaney, an Aussie duo that failed to make a single birdie.

The only International victory in the afternoon came from South Africa's, Ernie Els, who remained unbeaten on the Links Course at Fancourt.

Els and Adam Scott also let a lead slip away against Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, and were 1 up on the final hole.

DiMarco hit his second shot into 15 feet, while Els faced a chip from behind the green in thick grass that covered most of the ball. The chip landed softly and dropped for eagle to secure the victory.

At day's end, the Americans had a three-point lead heading into Saturday's session of six four-ball matches, with momentum on their side.

The world's No. 1 player has lost nine of his last 10 four-ball matches in The Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, and this was his worst defeat in any match -- 5 and 3.

"Tiger would be the logical one to be sitting this morning because his four-ball record has not been particularly good," Nicklaus said. "But if I sat Tiger, not only would he shoot me, but everyone in South Africa would shoot me, too."

It was a marquee pairing -- Woods and Els, plus their partners.

Clark stole the show by making four birdies on the front nine -- and missing two birdie putts inside 8 feet -- as they never trailed.

Only one four-ball match made it to the 18th hole, DiMarco set the tone by making sure the International team didn't steal another half-point.

DiMarco and Leonard allowed Singh and Nick Price to cut a 3-down deficit to 1 down going to the 18th.

DiMarco, one of four Americans to have never played in cup competition, reached the uphill par 5 in two, then gently lagged his eagle putt within 6 inches for a conceded birdie. They won, 2 up, when Singh failed to chip in for eagle from off the green.

The biggest win belonged to Furyk and Jay Haas, who won 6 and 5 over Stuart Appleby and Adam Scott. It matched the largest margin in team play at The Presidents Cup, set several times.

Perry and Davis Love III were tough again, winning 2 and 1 over Choi and Goosen in a match that could have ended sooner.

Weir and Allenby had no trouble against Toms and Mickelson.

The Canadian has won his last four matches against the other Lefty dating to 2000. Mickelson is the only American without a point after two days in South Africa.

Woods recovered from a difficult morning match.

He had only three looks at birdie on the front nine in his better-ball match, none from closer than 20 feet. He pulled wedges into bunkers and hit drives into the rough.

"Sometimes when you're playing for yourself, you can concentrate and focus because there's nobody else to back you up," Nicklaus said.

"I'm speaking more for myself. He may be having the same problem."

By the end of the day, Woods had no problem making a putt that really mattered.