International team leads U.S. at Presidents Cup

Adam Scott watched his 25-foot eagle putt from the fringe curl into the left side of the cup for a 3-up lead against Tiger Woods and Fred Couples, a serious blow that set the tone for the International team Thursday in the opening match at the Presidents Cup.

Retief Goosen extended his hand, as if to tap fists with Scott to celebrate such a big putt in alternate shot.

But all Goosen wanted was the ball. It was his turn on the tee.

"I think I got a 'Good putt' out of him," Scott said with a smile.

With quiet precision, Goosen and Scott turned in a tag-team performance that buried Woods and Couples and sent the International team into truly foreign territory at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va. -- in the lead.

Mike Weir and Trevor Immelman brought up the rear, making four birdies in the first five holes to crush David Toms and Stewart Cink. In between, the International team did enough right to take a 3 1/2-2 1/2 lead.

In other matches, International team members Michael Campbell and Angel Cabrera beat Davis Love III and Kenny Perry 2 and 1, while Vijay Singh and Mark Hensby earned a half-point for the International team by halving their match with Fred Funk and Jim Furyk.

For the Americans, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMaraco beat Nick O'Hern and Tim Clark 1-up and Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank defeated Peter Lonard and Stuart Appleby 4 and 2. There are six best-ball matches today.

One point isn't much, especially with 28 matches left until the cup is awarded.

"It's like a mile race and you're 50 yards ahead," International captain Gary Player said. "This is as close as it can be without being a tie."

PGA Tour

Robert Gamez shot an 8-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead over Houston-area resident Jeff Maggert after the first round of the Texas Open in San Antonio.

Gamez, winless since taking two events as a rookie in 1990, birdied eight of the first 16 holes in his bogey-free round on the LaCantera Golf Club's Resort Course. Playing in one of the early groups, he made a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 8, chipped in from 80 feet for a birdie on No. 9 and holed a 38-foot putt on No. 11.

Woody Austin and John Senden matched Maggert with 63s, and Phillip Price, Ted Purdy, David Hearn and Nick Watney opened with 64s.

-- From wire reports