Woods and Els stalemate

The Presidents Cup ended without a winner in the gloom at George, South Africa, yesterday as the captains of the International Team and the United States agreed to a tie and to share the trophy.

The International captain Gary Player and his American counterpart Jack Nicklaus made the agreement after a play-off match between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els was still undecided after three extra holes with dusk falling.

Nicklaus wanted to claim that the Americans, as holders, were entitled to lift the trophy after a 17-17 tie, only to be met by objections by the International team. Eventually the two parties agreed to share the spoils rather than continue in worsening conditions or play on today.

Els had lost to Woods in the last-day singles but held his nerve in the three extra holes. The South African had to make a 10-footer at the second and Woods a high-pressure putt from 15 feet at the par-three third.