MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Tiger Woods, in the same group as former caddie Steve Williams for the first time since their acrimonious split, needs a huge back-nine comeback at Royal Melbourne if he and partner Steve Stricker hope to win their foursomes match at the Presidents Cup.Adam Scott, with Williams on his bag, and partner K.J. Choi had a 5-up lead for the Internationals after nine holes Thursday in the alternate-shot format. The Internationals and Americans were evenly split otherwise, leading in three matches each.Two weeks ago, Williams made a racial slur against Woods at a caddies party in Shanghai. Williams apologized, but their on-course meeting has been one of the most anticipated pairings on the first day of the Presidents Cup.

Woods and Stricker won all four of their foursome or fourball matches at Harding Park in San Francisco two years ago, while Woods was 5-0 overall after winning in singles. Neither player had made a birdie on the front nine Thursday, and Choi missed a five-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole or the damage could have been worse.Woods and Williams shook hands firmly on the first tee after Woods made a point of walking over to Williams and thrusting out his hand.The biggest swing came in the match involving Americans Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, who were 2 down after three but won three holes in a row to take a 3-up lead over Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa after 14 holes.Watson and Simpson, Presidents Cup rookies, looked set to give the Americans the first point of the competition.