SAN FRANCISCO — Even after 10 matches that stretched over 10 hours in the chill of late summer in San Francisco, what put the Americans on the cusp of another victory in the Presidents Cup were two shots by Tiger Woods.

First came a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th that rolled in on its final turn, sending Woods into a series of fist pumps and more emotion that he had shown all week. With the match finally tied, he followed with a 3-iron from 218 yards on the par-5 18th that was so pure he twirled the club in his hand and walked toward the green, hands outstretched, until it stopped 8 feet away for eagle.

From a sure loss to an improbable 1-up victory over Mike Weir and Tim Clarke.

Instead of the Americans leading by a single point, they are up by three and in command of this Presidents Cup yet again.

"Don't overanalyze this whole thing," International captain Greg Norman said. "It was just great golf by Tiger Woods, making the putt on 17, turning the whole thing around, and he obviously hit a phenomenal shot on 18."

He had some help, of course.

Woods and Steve Stricker were perfect as Presidents Cup partners — the first team to ever go 4-0 in this competition — and they got enough help from everyone else to give the United States a 12 1/2-9 1/2 lead.

Phil Mickelson nearly joined them with undefeated records, using different partners. Mickelson and Sean O'Hair, his third partner this week, teamed for an easy foursomes victory in the morning and each had a birdie putt on the final hole in fourballs to win another match. Both missed and they settled for a halve.

Even so, even the half-points pushed the Americans closer to the 17 1/2 points they need to win the cup.

"I think we all like our position," Jim Furyk said. "We still realize that you have to play well tomorrow, and you have to get the job done."

The International team walked away from Harding Park the last two days with momentum from keeping close. But as darkness fell across from Lake Merced, the deficit looked daunting with only 12 singles matches remaining today.

No team has rallied from three points behind on the final day to win the cup outright, and the Americans have lost only one singles session in the seven previous Presidents Cup matches.

"Last time we had a five-point mountain to climb in Montreal, and it looks like we will have something to climb," Geoff Ogilvy said after collecting his first point of the week in teaming with fellow Australian Robert Allenby to beat Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover, 2 and 1, in the afternoon fourball.

MADRID MASTERS

MCGOWAN CARDS 60, OPENS 7-STROKE LEAD

Ross McGowan took the biggest 54-hole lead on the European Tour this year after a 12-under 60 yesterday gave him a seven-stroke advantage at the Madrid Masters in Madrid, Spain.

The Englishman was at 24-under 192 after a third round that included two eagles and 10 birdies at the Centro Nacional course.

"I can't believe it really," McGowan said. "I just played my own game and didn't think about the score until I hit the second shot to the 18th."

McGowan could bolster his Ryder Cup prospects with his first victory of the season. He is currently eighth in the standings.

Sergio Garcia bogeyed four of his last seven holes on his way to a 71 that put him 10 shots back after he shared the overnight lead with David Drysdale. The Scot had a 69 and was eight strokes adrift.

The Spaniard, who is winless this season, started with back-to-back birdies and was only one shot behind McGowan at the turn. Things then fell apart thanks to five bogeys.