PROFESSIONAL GOLF Internationals lead after first day of Presidents Cup

The Americans missed out on a chance to go up 5-1.
GEORGE, South Africa (AP) -- Gary Player was surprised to see the International team leading after the opening round at the Presidents Cup, especially since the Americans led in every alternate-shot match except one.
Still, a remarkable comeback for a 3 1/2-2 1/2 lead was only a start.
"The horses have just come out of the gate," Player said.
The United States can only hope it doesn't stumble down the stretch like it did Thursday on the Links Course at Fancourt.
"They all want to go kick themselves in the rear end," U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus said.
Behind the strong, new partnership of Tiger Woods and Charles Howell III, and the dramatic shots of Davis Love III and Kenny Perry, the Americans raced out to a 2-1 lead and were 2-up on the back nine in the other three matches.
It all fell apart so quickly.
Late charges
Masters champion Mike Weir and Nick Price birdied the last two holes for a 1-up victory.
Ernie Els and Adam Scott birdied the last three holes for a 1-up victory.
Robert Allenby holed a birdie putt from on the fringe at No. 16 just to continue the match, then he and Stephen Leaney won the final two holes with pars to scratch out a half-point and gave the International team the lead.
"It could have been quite ugly," Peter Lonard of Australia said. "Knowing we could be 5-1 down and looking down the barrel of the gun, and we can still pull it out somehow ... that's probably the most important thing."
Five matches of better-ball began this morning under overcast skies, with Player revamping his entire lineup.
On Thursday, the International team saved its best for last.
Battle of the lefties
First came the gutsy 6-iron from Weir, winning yet another battle of the lefties.
He and Price were 1-down with two holes to play against Phil Mickelson and David Toms, the top American tandem from last year's Ryder Cup.
Facing the par-3 17th with bunkers and rough to the right and a 6-foot trench protecting the left -- a difficult shot for left-handers -- Mickelson turned away in disgust as his ball sailed well right of the green.
Weir took aim at the flag and Price walked off the tee clapping and shaking his fists. Price converted the birdie, then hit a nice chip to 5 feet that Weir finished off for birdie on the 18th and a 1-up victory.
Then came Scott, the dashing young Aussie whose swing reminds everyone of Woods.
From the 18th fairway, Scott hit a 2-iron from 265 yards that covered the flag and left his teammates in awe.
"Only two players can hit that shot," Els said, referring to Scott and Woods.
Conceded
The ball skipped just over the green, and Els hit a nice chip that was conceded for birdie and a 1-up victory over Justin Leonard and Jim Furyk.
The final blow was Allenby and Leaney, 2-down against Jay Haas and Fred Funk with three holes to play.
Facing certain defeat, Allenby holed a 15-foot birdie from the fringe to halve the hole and stay alive. Haas' tee shot on No. 17 drifted into the trench, and Funk conceded after his bold play from the gunch hit the rock wall and ricocheted over his head.
Haas hit his second shot into rough so thick on the par-5 18th that Funk couldn't reach the green. They lost the hole with a bogey and had to settle for a halve.