Tiger Woods' US team staged a stirring late comeback to stay in the hunt at the Presidents Cup on Friday after the tournament appeared to be slipping away.
The US went into the alternate shot or foursomes format on day two trailing 4-1, after Ernie Els' Internationals enjoyed their best start to the biennial matchplay event since 2005.
They ended it 6.5-3.5 behind after clawing their way back against from Els' young unit, who had looked to be closing on the Internationals' first victory since 1998.
At one point the Internationals were ahead in all five matches, but Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay both drilled huge putts on the 18th to clinch narrow victories for a US team that desperately needed points, with playing-captain Woods leading wild celebrations.
Els, who has been meticulous in his planning, played in the Internationals' lone triumph 21 years ago and showed his team video highlights to instill how much it means to win.
They again responded admirably, winning two, losing two and halving one on a pulsating day.
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With 30 points at stake over the week, they need another nine from Saturday's eight matches and the 12 singles on Sunday for a famous victory.
The omens looked good for the Internationals in a heavyweight opening clash that pitted former world number one Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar against the experienced Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott.
They started well, clinching the opening hole with Johnson driving off the tee then draining a birdie putt.
Oosthuizen then missed a simple putt to hand the US a two-up lead by the fifth, before the International pair began clicking to win the sixth and eighth.
They turned the screws as the crowd roared them on to win at the 11th, 13th and 14th and whip the dejected Americans 3 and 2.
- Reed digs in -
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