Fitting finale for Woods as US sweep to victory

In his last round of a mind-blowing season Tiger Woods came up with the fitting finale yesterday, winning the World Cup yet again.

But it was a disappointing day for the Irish pairing of Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley. Tied for sixth place after three rounds - four shots off the lead - the winners in America in 1997 slumped to a three over par 75 which left them back in tenth place. Bogeys at the last two holes were to prove very costly.

However, after triumphing with Mark O'Meara in Malaysia last year Woods partnered David Duval as the United States completed - after one last-day scare - a three-stroke victory over hosts Argentina in windy Buenos Aires.

It was Woods' 12th victory of 2000, 13 if you include the Presidents Cup, and his half-share of the million dollar first prize took his earnings for the season to a staggering £7.3million. And that is just on the course.

"Eight straight weeks travelling around the world has taken its toll and I'm a little worn out, but this has been a fantastic week," said Woods.

He jokingly added that of their 34 under par aggregate of 254, "David was 32 under and I was two under. He played beautifully."

Duval stated: "This was even more fun than I imagined it would be when Tiger asked me to partner him. The fans were amazing."

As the only two players in the world's top 20 taking part in the event, now part of the World Championships, the surprise was that it took Woods and Duval 50 holes to go in front.

Their only alarm in their closing foursomes round of 68 - and it was a big one - came at the 495-yard ninth.

In what had by then become a two-horse race 46-year-old Eduardo Romero produced a roar worthy of Diego Maradona scoring a winning soccer World Cup goal when he holed a 15-foot eagle putt.

The Americans were playing behind them and when they bogeyed the hole in equally dramatic fashion - from the very edge of the lake off an errant Duval drive Woods hacked at the ball, but moved it only a few inches and saw it roll into the water - the gap was down to just one.

But five holes later the difference was five. While Romero and Angel Cabrera bogeyed the 13th and long 14th Woods made a 30-footer at the short 11th and then Duval's glorious approach to the 14th set up another birdie. The title was decided in that stretch.

The United States, who have now won the World Cup 23 times in its 46 stagings, finished on the 34 under par aggregate of 254. Behind Argentina came Paraguay in third place, while Scots Paul Lawrie and Gary Orr were fifth after a 70, Welsh pair Ian Woosnam and Phil Price 15th - they had double bogeys on both the fourth and 17th - and England's Jamie Spence and Brian Davis 16th.

Orr spoke for many when he said: "I think these were the most enthusiastic fans I've ever played in front and I really enjoyed it."

Lawrie added: "Neither of us putted as well as we can, but I think this was a far better format."

Previously both players handed in scores all four days and rounds took in excess of six hours.

Woods' year, of course, will still be remembered most for his victories in the US Open, Open and US PGA.

But he had at least one victory - either solo or team - every month this year, which will go down as one of the greatest in golfing history.