Vijay Singh and Stuart Appleby crushed Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk 5 am 4 in the first fourballs match to spark a comeback bid by the International team in the Presidents Cup yesterday.

The Internationals began the day five points adrift after the US dominated Thursday's foursomes but cut the deficit to just two points after taking four of the six matches on day two.

With the sun shining at the Royal Montreal Golf Club, the players treated the sellout crowd to a dazzling display of shotmaking. Singh and Appleby produced several memorable moments to rout Woods and world number three Furyk.

Woods, whose form in Presidents Cup fourballs does not reflect his status as world number one, continued to struggle with the format as his win-loss record slipped to 2-7.

Singh and Appleby were six under par after seven holes, helped by two spectacular chip-ins from the Fijian, one from the sixth fairway and another from a greenside bunker at the first.

A 32-foot eagle putt from Australian Appleby on the par-five 12th then put the Internationals four up.

"We hit the right shots at the right time and made putts and that set the tone," said Appleby. "They played well but we were always in front."

Canada's Mike Weir and South Africa's Ernie Els added another point to the International cause, with a 3 and 2 victory over US Masters champion Zach Johnson and Charles Howell III.

World number two Phil Mickelson and Hunter Mahan were all square with US Open champion Angel Cabrera and Retief Goosen with three to play but a Goosen birdie at the 17th gave the Internatioanls a valuable point.

Steve Stricker and Scott Verplank were all square with Australia's Adam Scott and South Korea's KJ Choi through 10 but struck a vital blow with wins at the 14th and 16th for the US's first point of the day.

Woody Austin and David Toms shared the point with South Africans Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini.

Austin twice ended up in water, first with his ball and then comically on his back, while playing the par-four 14th.

With his ball totally submerged, the 43-year-old took off his shoes and socks before tumbling backwards into the water while trying to play his second shot.

Austin failed to make any contact with the ball before getting totally drenched.

Toms had also found water off the tee before the pair conceded the hole.