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The Americans, trailing in all five matches at
one point, dug deep at Royal Melbourne to share the day two
honors, with captain Tiger Woods and his playing partner Justin
Thomas leading the way once again.
Woods and Thomas were the only pair to score for the United
States in the opening fourballs on Thursday and returned to
claim a vital point in a 1-up win over Hideki Matsuyama and An
Byeong-hun.
Thomas rolled in a 17-foot putt on the 18th to secure the win
and celebrated wildly before being wrapped in a bear-hug by
Woods.
"I'm speechless, I've been fortunate to make a lot of big putts
and hit a lot of big shots," said Thomas.
"But to do it with my captain and unbelievable team mate to win
the match, hopefully turn the tide of this Presidents Cup is
awesome."
Woods added: "We clawed our way back and JT steps up there and
pours this thing in at the last hole and it gives me absolute
chills, man. Absolute chills."
Earlier, Patrick Cantlay, teamed up with Xander Schauffele,
rolled in a 14-foot birdie putt on the 18th to claim a 1-up win
over Adam Hadwin and Joaquin Niemann.
Rickie Fowler capped the stirring U.S. fightback with a clutch
putt for par on 18 to clinch a half-point against Cameron Smith
and Im Sung-jae.
SHOVELLING
Until that final hour, the Internationals appeared set to extend
their lead and give themselves a huge chance of ending a run of
seven successive losses in the event.
Still, Els' team are in rare air, having not led the competition
after day two since 2005.
Els said his players now knew what they were up against.
"This was probably good for them, showing what can happen the
last couple holes," said the captain.
"My guys learned a lot from this afternoon."
Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen got the ball rolling for the
Internationals as they came back from two holes down to secure a
3&2 win over Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar.
It was Johnson's second successive loss after he and Gary
Woodland were trounced 4&3 by Abraham Ancer and Oosthuizen in
the fourballs on Thursday.
Mexican debutant Ancer and Australian Marc Leishman then
combined to continue Patrick Reed's forgettable Presidents Cup
as they swotted aside 'Captain America' and Webb Simpson 3&2.
Fiery Texan Reed, heckled by the crowds after his controversial
bunker penalty last week, made a defiant "shovelling" gesture at
the gallery on the 11th but will need to dig deep to lift
himself out of a 2-0 hole for the event.
Reed will have a chance to do so early on Saturday, with Woods
giving he and Simpson another chance in the morning fourballs.
The United States will have to attack the morning without
talisman Woods, however, who has elected to sit out the
fourballs and lead from the sidelines.
Woods may return for the four foursomes matches in the
afternoon, however.
With eight points up for grabs, day three could prove decisive.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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