Tiger Woods is still pointless after brutal battle

United States Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples praised his men and the rival Internationals after they battled against "brutal" conditions to earn an even split of today's six fourball matches.

Players watched aghast as gusts of wind caused drives to plunge into bunkers and gentle putts tumble past the cups at Royal Melbourne.

"I'm proud of all 24 players," said US skipper Couples with his defending champions leading 7-5 overall. "It was not much fun out there for any of them. It was brutal."

After two days of play, Tiger Woods is now the only American not to score but, after yesterday's horror show when he lost 7&6 in partnership with Steve Stricker, today's defeat was far more honourable. The wildcard pick and Dustin Johnson lost by one hole to Aaron Baddeley and Jason Day.

Couples said: "We are up by two points, and that's really all I care about at the moment. And I would say Tiger does the same."

FOURBALL RESULTS (US first): B Watson & W Simpson beat E Els (SA) & R Ishikawa (Jap) 3&1, T Woods & D Johnson lost to J Day (Aus) & A Baddeley (Aus) by 1, P Mickelson & J Furyk beat A Scott (Aus) & K Kung-tae (S Kor) 2&1, B Haas & N Watney lost to G Ogilvy (Aus) & KJ Choi (S Kor) by 1, S Stricker & M Kuchar beat YE Yang (S Kor) & R Allenby (Aus) 4&3, H Mahan & D Toms lost to C Schwartzel (SA) & R Goosen (SA) 2&1