Day 1 of the President’s Cup looked like it was going to belong to the Americans, but after a weather delay the competition grew tighter as the International Team made up for lost time and lost opportunities.

Captain Fred Couples’ U.S. team looked as if they were taking on their captain’s demeanor as they began to make things look easy against the International Team. Birdies were dropping with ease and their confidence was building.

But things would not continue to be easy for either team as weather moved in around 2:30 p.m. and suspended play. At the time of the horn blast, the U.S. led in five of the six matches.

Maybe Captain Nick Price gave an inspiring speech to his team, or maybe they just needed a break. Whatever the case, the International Team came ready to play after the weather delay.

Though the International Team seemed to have new life, the Americas scored the first point thanks to the pairing of Tiger and Matt Kuchar, who sealed a 5-and-4 victory over Angel Cabrera and Marc Leishman. Woods and Kuchar made seven birdies in the match, dominating Cabrera and Leishman.

“We ham and egged it pretty good,” Woods said, referencing their ability to alternate birdies all day and give the U.S. Team its first points of the week.”

Other U.S. pairings were not as successful after the horn, however.

Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker were 3 up on Jason Day and Graham DeLaet at one point. But the last 12 holes saw Mahan and Snedeker only produce one birdie, and Day and DeLaet went on to defeat them 1 up.

Though Day played well and sunk the matching-winning putt on No. 18, it was DeLaet who carried them. He had an extraordinary Thursday, making six birdies including three consecutive birdies to turn the momentum the International Team’s way on the back nine.

But the U.S Team also had a rookie they could rely upon in Jordan Spieth. Spieth played comfortably alongside veteran Steve Stricker, and the two led most of the day against Ernie Els and Brendon De Jonge.

Els rallied late with a birdie on No. 17, putting he and De Jonge within reach of the Americans, who were 1-up going to No. 18. After Spieth hit his tee ball in the water, the pressure was on Stricker. And while he missed the green with his approach, Stricker pulled off a clutch shot from a buried lie in a greenside bunker and salvaged a par for the Americans to halve the hole and win the match. That put the U.S. Team up 1 point on the International Team, 3.5 to 2.5.

Both captains seemed pleased with the way their teams performed on Day 1.

“We rocked and rolled early,” said Couples. “Our guys came out firing. The rain delay obviously helped the International Team, which is fine. I couldn’t be happier for Steve Stricker and Jordan Spieth getting that last point.”

Though the International Team is behind, Team Captain Nick Price was pleased with how his team rallied.

“I think my team made a great effort there coming back,” he said.