Match 22 report: U.S., Internationals halve

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Here's an in-depth look at Saturday afternoon's Four-Ball match between the United States duo of Phil Mickelson and Sean O'Hair and the Internationals' Tim Clark and Vijay Singh.

Match reports: Match 18 | Match 19 | Match 20 | Match 21 | Match 22 | Full scores

Match 22

Phil MICKELSON/Sean O'HAIR(USA) halve Tim CLARK/Vijay SINGH(Int'l)

Overview: This was the best of the day. Singh birdied the first two holes -- the first to halve and the second to put the Internationals 1 up -- but Clark was once again the catalyst for Greg Norman's clean-up hitters as he made six birdies. The Americans were playing together for the second straight match but didn't start making birdies until the back nine. The Internationals led 2 up at that juncture after Clark made a 10-footer at the seventh hole to pick up his second birdie. O'Hair then closed the gap with a 6-footer for birdie after Clark missed from 9 at the 10th hole. But the gutsy South African answered with a birdie at the 11th when he holed a putt from 63 feet and just off the green to regain the 2-up advantage for the Internationals. Consecutive birdies at the 12th and 13th, though, got the Americans back to all square and racheted up the excitement. The match was all square as the two teams came to the par-5 18th. Clark, who won with an eagle here on Friday, missed the green while his partner's approach landed just short of the putting surface. O'Hair missed the green well right while Mickelson's approach landed in the rough behind the green some 52 feet away. No one's third shot was particularly close -- setting up a putting contest with Clark 25 feet away, Singh 16, O'Hair 15 and Mickelson 11. When no one made his putt, the match was halved and the Americans lead by three entering the Sunday Singles session.

Key moment: It was actually two moments. Mickelson made a 13-footer for birdie at the 12th after Clark missed from 14 to put the Americans 1 down. O'Hair nearly drove the 13th green, then chipped to 19 inches for the tap-in with his partner out of the hole to even the match and set the stage for the dramatics at No. 18.

Quotes: "It's been a long, hard-fought battle. We had a good match today. Tim Clark played some incredible golf. Both Tim and Vijay played great but Tim on his own ball was quite a few under par. I haven't added it up, but it's low 60s. For Sean and I to hang in there, we really partnered well together today, and we fought hard to stay in this match. I think both sides would have liked to have finished with a birdie and see if we could have won, but it was a fun match and a fun day." -- Phil Mickelson

"I rode Tim all day. He played beautifully, his iron shots were great. It was tough. It was up and down. Nobody deserved to lose in that match. Both teams played well, but it's a long day tomorrow." -- Vijay Singh

"I've hit the ball good all week and been getting in the fairway and that's giving me a chance to attack some of the flags. I just wish we could make a few more putts, but tomorrow we'll have to do that." -- Tim Clark

Updated Presidents Cup player records: Phil Mickelson (14-13-10 overall, 6-4-5 Four-Balls); Sean O'Hair (1-2-1 overall, 0-1-1 Four-Balls); Tim Clark (5-7-2 overall, 4-0-2 Four-Balls); Vijay Singh (16-15-8 overall, 9-5-2 Four-Balls).