ON THE LINKS | Friday’s professional golf results

PRESIDENTS CUP

JERSEY CITY, N.J.

Phil Mickelson rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to cap off another big day for the Americans in the Presidents Cup. The Americans won four of the five matches in fourballs, and headed into the weekend with an 8-2 lead over the International team. It was the largest lead after two sessions since the Presidents Cup began in 1994. Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler had another easy time in a 3-and-2 victory over Louis Oosthuizen and Branden, handing the South Africans their first loss as a tandem in six matches. The shortest match belonged to a pair of American rookies, Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman, who won in 13 holes. Saturday features eight matches. The Americans already are 7 1/2 points away from winning.

WEB.COM TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

ATLANTIC BEACH, FLA.

Sam Saunders followed his opening 12-under 59 with a 66 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead into the weekend in the Web.com Tour Championship. Arnold Palmer’s grandson, Saunders closed with a double bogey on his home Atlantic Beach Country Club course a day after shooting the seventh sub-60 round in Web.com Tour history. Argentina’s Julian Etulain was second at 15 under after a 63. Saunders is trying to regain his PGA Tour card in the four-event Web.com Tour Finals after finishing 129th in the FedEx Cup standings. He entered the week 24th in the race for 25 PGA Tour cards with $27,900 — the winner Sunday will get $180,000 — in the first three events. Etulain was 46th in the money chase with $11,348 after finishing 161st in the FedEx Cup standings.

BRITISH MASTERS

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND

Tyrrell Hatton shot a 5-under 65 in miserable conditions in his second round to lead by three strokes at the British Masters, where the leaderboard was dominated by English players. Lee Westwood, who is hosting the tournament, and Ian Poulter also shot 65 and were two of four Englishmen in a five-way tie for second behind their compatriot. Hatton was on 12 under overall, having followed up an opening-round 63 by making six birdies in rainy and cold conditions at Close House in northern England.

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S OPEN

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Spain’s Belen Mozo shot an 8-under 64, including a hole in one on the par-3 13th, to take a five-stroke lead after two rounds of the New Zealand Women’s Open. Mozo finished strongly with a birdie on the 18th after a double-bogey on the 17th after hitting her tee shot into the water. She had a 14-under total of 130 on the newly-established Windross Farm course.

Associated Press