Americans in command at Presidents Cup

MONTREAL - Phil Mickelson pulled Woody Austin into his arms to celebrate another clutch putt from the 43-year-old rookie in the Presidents Cup, then they walked to the edge of the 18th green to see if it would be good enough for another American victory Thursday.

Mike Weir had chipped to 3½ feet, certainly no gimme for his partner Vijay Singh.

The Canadian crowd that had cheered so wildly for Weir and the International team grew silent, enough for Mickelson to hear that familiar high-pitched tone of U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus.

“What do you want to do with (his) putt?” Nicklaus asked.

Mickelson understood the question to be a directive, and he didn’t hesitate to concede the putt and halve the match.

It was the most poignant moment Thursday at Royal Montreal, a day filled with gray skies and American red numbers on the scoreboard. The concession assured the International team a half-point, and it turned out to be the only thing it earned in the biggest opening-session rout in seven years at the Presidents Cup.

With clutch play from rookies Austin and Lucas Glover, and solid play from Mickelson and Tiger Woods, the Americans won 5½ points in the six alternate-shot matches to seize early control of these matches.