We couldn’t keep up with Scott and Choi, says Woods

We couldn't keep up with Scott and Choi, says Woods after suffering career's worst-ever matchplay defeat

We couldn't keep up with Scott and Choi, says Woods

We couldn't keep up with Scott and Choi, says Woods after suffering career's worst-ever matchplay defeat

Tiger Woods suffered the biggest match play defeat of his life yesterday -- but it was still the Americans who began the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne much the better. Woods and Steve Stricker, hammered by a cup record-equalling 7&6 margin by Adam Scott and KJ Choi, were the only United States pair to lose in the opening foursomes.

USA's Tiger Woods and teammate Steve Stricker look on during Day
One of the Presidents Cup in Melbourne. Pic/Getty Images

Thanks to two late fightbacks for vital half-points Fred Couples's side established a 4-2 lead as they began their bid for a fourth successive win over the Internationals.

Woods was inevitably the centre of attention -- and not so much because he was a controversial wild card pick for the match after crashing outside the world's top 50.

By facing Scott, of course, he also came up against his former caddie Steve Williams, whose fury at being sacked earlier this summer spilled into a racist comment two weeks ago.

They shook hands on the first tee and again only 11 holes later, but they were the briefest of exchanges between a pair who had shared in 13 major victories.

Woods and Stricker won all their four games together in the match two years ago and had two more wins at the Ryder Cup last year before being blitzed 6&5 by Luke Donald and Lee Westwood. "Unfortunately they got off to a quick start and we couldn't keep up," Woods said.

"We kept finding ourselves on the wrong side of the slopes and the course is so difficult it's hard to make up shots." Woods and Stricker have been split for the second-day fourballs, which will start earlier than planned because of a bad weather forecast.