Fancourt, Nov 24: World number one Tiger Woods and Ernie Els had parred the first three extra holes in an unprecedented playoff for the title before it became too dark to continue at Fancourt's Link course. Els had lost to Woods in the last-day singles but held his nerve in the three extra holes. The South African world number three had to make a 10-footer at the second and Woods a high-pressure putt from 15 feet at the par-three third.
The pair were selected for the sudden-death decider after both teams finished regulation play deadlocked on 17 points. The Americans mounted a stirring fightback by winning seven and sharing one of the 12 last-day singles. Woods, displaying his best form of the week, beat Els 4 and 3 and Chris DiMarco won the penultimate tie one up against Australia's Stuart Appleby to leave the teams level on 16-1/2 points with just one match out on the course. With dusk fast approaching, Davis Love III went one up in the decider with two holes to play in a fluctuating clash with Robert Allenby after the Australian hit his second shot at the par-five 16th into a bush.


Both players parred the 191-yard 17th but Love duffed a chip from just in front of the green at the last, and failed to get up and down in five before conceding the hole for a half, setting up the Cup's dramatic finale.


The Americans had gone into the final day trailing by three points, but U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk drew first blood for the holders, producing pinpoint accuracy off the tee on his way to a 3 and 1 victory over U.S. Masters winner Mike Weir of Canada.


Cup rookie Charles Howell III then outplayed a struggling Adam Scott of Australia 5 and 4 before South Korea's K.J. Choi grabbed the first point of the day for the Internationals with a 4 and 2 victory over 1997 British Open champion Justin Leonard.


However the U.S. won the next two matches, Jerry Kelly holding off a fast-finishing Tim Clark of South Africa by a hole and 49-year-old veteran Jay Haas easing to a 4 and 3 win over Australia's Stephen Leaney.


Australia's Peter Lonard collected a second win for the Internationals, beating Fred Funk 4 and 3 before big-hitting Kenny Perry drew the Americans level on 14-1/2 points after edging a tense battle with Nick Price one up.


South African Retief Goosen mixed seven birdies with an eagle-three at the 13th to complete a 2 and 1 win over Phil Mickelson and Fiji's Vijay Singh outplayed David Toms 4 and 3 to leave the Internationals just one point short of victory.

But the rejuvenated Woods outplayed Els and DiMarco, boosted by two birdies in the last three holes, beat Appleby before Love, Allenby, Els and Woods played key roles in the thrilling climax.


Results of Sunday's singles matches on the final day of the fifth Presidents Cup match between the United States and an International team (U.S. players first): Jim Furyk beat Mike Weir (Canada) 3 and 1 Jerry Kelly beat Tim Clark (South Africa) one up Kenny Perry beat Nick Price (Zimbabwe) one up Justin Leonard lost to K.J.Choi (South Korea) 4 and 2 Charles Howell III beat Adam Scott (Australia) 5 and 4 Jay Haas beat Stephen Leaney (Australia) 4 and 3 Phil Mickelson lost to Retief Goosen (South Africa) 2 and 1 Fred Funk lost to Peter Lonard (Australia) 4 and 3 Chris DiMarco beat Stuart Appleby (Australia) one up David Toms lost to Vijay Singh (Fiji) 4 and 3 Tiger Woods beat Ernie Els (South Africa) 4 and 3 Davis Love III v Robert Allenby (Australia) all square


Sudden-death playoff: Tiger Woods and Ernie Els all square after three holes when both sides agreed to share the trophy as light faded.


Singles results: Internationals 4-1/2 United States 7-1/2 Match result: Internationals 17 United States 17 - cup shared.


Bureau Report