George, South Africa ? Jack Nicklaus felt apologetic as he stood on the first tee Saturday, his U.S. team holding a big lead and poised to turn the Presidents Cup into a rout.

Looking over at International team captain Gary Player, he shrugged and said, “It’s a funny game. We got you guys pretty good yesterday, but it could turn around.”

Nicklaus was just trying to be nice.

The International team was anything but that.

From Ernie Els to Vijay Singh, the International team battered the Americans for a sweep of the six better-ball matches, a phenomenal display of golf in smoky, windy conditions that left the Americans on the verge of losing another cup.

“We got our butts kicked,” Nicklaus said.

The International team seized a 121/2-91/2 lead, and now needs only to win five of the 12 singles matches to win the Presidents Cup for the second time.

“This was a dream day for us,” Nick Price said.

Els improved to 4-0 on the Links Course at Fancourt by teaming with Tim Clark. They led 3-up after four holes and won, 3 and 2, over Jim Furyk and Jay Haas.

The International team's Ernie Els, left, and Tim Clark, of South Africa, combined to defeat the United States' Jim Furyk and Jay Haas, 3 and 2. The victory Saturday in George, South Africa, helped the Internationals take a three-point lead in the Presidents Cup.

Singh and Retief Goosen were simply brilliant down the stretch, finishing with five straight birdies for a 2-and-1 victory over Tiger Woods and Charles Howell III.

Woods is 0-6 in better-ball matches in the Presidents Cup.

The International team went up early and won big, with only one match reaching the 18th. Els stood behind the 17th green, clapping his hands over his head as he watched his team complete only the third sweep at the Presidents Cup.

“I never would have imagined this,” he said. “Against this team? Are you kidding?”