Gainesville, Va. ? The International team was in foreign territory Thursday at the Presidents Cup. It was in the lead.

Retief Goosen and Adam Scott turned in a tag-team performance that buried Tiger Woods and Fred Couples in the opening match. Bringing up the rear were Mike Weir and Trevor Immelman, who birdied four of their first five holes in alternate shot for a dominant victory over David Toms and Stewart Cink.

When the first day of matches ended, the International team had a 31â2-21â2 lead.

One point isn’t much, especially with 28 matches left until the cup is awarded. But considering how the International team typically starts at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, it was cause for celebration. In three previous trips to this golf course on the shores of Lake Manassas, the Americans have twice led 5-0 and once led 4-1 after the opening day.

“Some places it could have been worse,” U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus said. “Some places it could have been better. Tomorrow is another day.”

Scott and Goosen got this day off to a resounding start.

It started with a simple halve on the third hole, when Goosen hit a 60-foot putt to a hole that was just below a steep ridge. The putt was struck with such perfect force that it settled 16 inches from the cup. Then, it was a matter of waiting for Woods and Couples to self-destruct. A poor chip by Woods cost them the fourth hole. Couples missed a 4-foot birdie putt so badly that it never touched the hole, falling two behind on the sixth.