Tiger Woods has made an ominous early statement but the Internationals are hanging tough during the opening session of the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.
Playing with Justin Thomas, Woods put on a show to have Team USA dominating Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann, to take the first point for the USA with a 4&3 win.
Leishman and Niemann fought gamely to be two down through nine holes, but their challenge was soon extinguished with the US pairing winningg the 11th,14, and the 15th to close the match out early.
It was a different story for the other international pairings elsewhere on the course with the underdogs fired up and holding overall advantage.
Abraham Ancer and an inspired Louis Oosthuizen, with three birdies in four holes, were in command of Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland, a clutch birdie b y Ancer on the 13th for the pair to go four up looks to have all but ensured the first point for the internationmals..
Hideki Matsuyama and CT Pan are one up on Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson after 13 holes while Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An were also two up against Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau.
Adam Hadwin and Sungjae IM are in a battle against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay with the match tied through 15 holes.