U.S. golfers on course for Cup win

JERSEY CITY, N.J. Phil Mickelson rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to cap off another big day for the Americans and set a record for the largest lead after two sessions in Presidents Cup history.

Another day like this and that’s what the International team will be — history.

Mickelson and Kevin Kisner never led against Jason Day and Marc Leishman until the par-3 18th hole Friday at Liberty National. Mickelson poured in his birdie putt and Leishman missed his from about the same range.

Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., were 2 up with four holes to play against Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, but had to settle for a half.

Justin Thomas, already with a big year behind him as a major champion and the FedEx Cup champion, teamed with Rickie Fowler for another easy victory. They have trailed only one hole in their two matches and they became the first partnership to beat Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace.

Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka took their first lead on the par-three 10th with Koepka’s birdie and Johnson showed rare emotion on his final two birdies in a 3-and-2 victory over Adam Scott and Jhonattan Vegas.

With an 8-2 lead, the Americans have a mathematical chance to clinch Saturday.

Also Friday, Spain’s Belen Mozo shot an 8-under 64, including a hole in one on the par-three 13th, to take a five-stroke lead after two rounds of the New Zealand Women’s Open in Auckland.

She had a 14-under total of 130 on the Windross Farm course.

Three golfers shared second place — Emily Tubert of the United States, who shot 65 Friday, Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden (67) and Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., the co-leader after the first round who had a 70 Friday.