PRESIDENTS CUP International team rebounds

The Americans were swept in Saturday's six matches.
GEORGE, South Africa (AP) -- Jack Nicklaus felt apologetic as he stood on the first tee Saturday, his U.S. team holding a big lead and poised to turn the Presidents Cup into a rout.
Looking over at International team captain Gary Player, he shrugged and said, "It's a funny game. We got you guys pretty good yesterday, but it could turn around."
Nicklaus was just trying to be nice.
The International team was anything but that.
From Ernie Els to Vijay Singh, the International team battered the Americans for a sweep of the six better-ball matches, a phenomenal display of golf in smoky, windy conditions that left the Americans on the verge of losing another cup.
"We got our butts kicked," Nicklaus said.
Reversal
The International team seized a 121/2-91/2 lead, and now needs only to win five of the 12 singles matches to win the Presidents Cup for the second time.
"This was a dream day for us," Nick Price said.
Els improved to 4-0 on the Links Course at Fancourt by teaming with Tim Clark. They led 3-up after four holes and won, 3 and 2, over Jim Furyk and Jay Haas.
Singh and Retief Goosen were simply brilliant down the stretch, finishing with five straight birdies for a 2-and-1 victory over Tiger Woods and Charles Howell III.
Woods is 0-6 in better-ball matches in the Presidents Cup.
The International team went up early and won big, with only one match reaching the 18th.
Third sweep
Els stood behind the 17th green, clapping his hands over his head as he watched his team complete only the third sweep at the Presidents Cup.
"I never would have imagined this," he said. "Against this team? Are you kidding?"
Els invited teammates to his beach house for a barbecue Friday night, and rumor has it he fed them a plate full of spinach.
"Steaks, baby," Els said with his easy smile. "Good food, the fresh sea air. We really didn't talk about golf last night. But I think everybody had today on their minds."
The International team responded in swift and shocking fashion at a course shrouded in smoke from a brush fire in the Outeniqua Mountains.
Peter Lonard and Stephen Leaney rallied from 2 down to beat Fred Funk and Phil Mickelson, the only player not to have won a match this week. The shutout was just getting started.
Long eagle putts
Mike Weir and Robert Allenby finished it off in style, both nearly holing 70-foot eagle putts on No. 18 for a 1-up victory over Justin Leonard and Chris DiMarco.
"The best thing about today is that today doesn't matter. Tomorrow is where you win the cup," Jerry Kelly said after he and Kenny Perry lost to Adam Scott and K.J. Choi.
Player put Weir in the leadoff position today, where he will face Furyk in a match that pits the Masters champion against the U.S. Open champion. Woods and Els -- the showdown everyone in South Africa wants to see -- will be the second-to-last match.
"We're all hoping the match is not over by the time it gets there," Nicklaus said.