Ernie Els paid tribute to the "phenomenal" golf of partner Retief Goosen after South Africa claimed the EMC World Cup title in a four-way play-off after a sensational finish in Japan.

Els and Goosen triumphed on the second hole of sudden death against the Danish pair of Thomas Bjorn and Soren Hansen, after the United States and third round leaders New Zealand had been eliminated on the first play-off hole.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley shot 71 on the day, which left them out of contention.

The South Africans had to eagle the 18th hole in regulation in yesterday's foursomes to make the play-off, and then birdied the hole in extra time along with the Danes to stay alive.

A wayward drive from Bjorn on the second play-off hole then left Hansen able only to play out of the trees sideways, and a par four from the South Africans was good enough for the £660,000 sterling first prize.

"I've had a lot of chances to win this year - my last one was almost a year ago - so it's a great feeling, especially playing with a very good friend of mine," said Els, who won the individual and team title in 1996 with Wayne Westner.

"We started playing junior golf together, almost 20 years ago it seems like, and we know each other very well. It's very, very special for me to win a tour event with him, especially the World Cup."

The South Africans' stunning finish was almost eclipsed by yet another stroke of genius from Tiger Woods. The world number one capped an amazing fight-back from the defending champions by chipping in for eagle on the 72nd hole.

The Americans had looked dead and buried with four holes to play, level par for the day and five shots behind clubhouse leaders Denmark.

Even when they birdied the 15th, 16th and 17th to reach 22 under, it seemed as if it was too little too late with South Africa and Denmark already in the clubhouse on 24 under and playing partners New Zealand also 24 under with one to play.

But those who write off Woods do so at their peril.

"To be honest I didn't think he had a chance of making it," Els admitted.

And there was an air of inevitability in the way his chip-and-run from a greenside hollow climbed the bank and rolled inexorably to the hole, dropping into the right hand side of the cup.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell, whose pulled approach into the crowd on the 18th left partner David Smail with an awkward pitch to the green, still had a chance to seal victory with an 18-foot putt for birdie but left it short.

The Danes had set the early target courtesy of a brilliant round of 65, the best foursomes score of the week, with Bjorn bravely holing from 12 feet on the 18th for their seventh birdie of the day. Seconds later the Kiwis got back on level terms with a birdie on the 16th, before the South Africans set the tone for a remarkable grandstand finish.

Goosen's superb approach finished just eight feet from the pin and Els coaxed in the eagle putt for a 66 to join Denmark on 24 under.

"We knew we needed eagle and Retief hit a beautiful five-iron with the best swing you can think of to about eight feet. I managed to hole it, but the real scoring shot was the second one from Retief," added Els.

Then it was Woods' turn to write yet another remarkable chapter in his amazing career, only for the magic to crucially desert him moments later.

He pulled his drive on the first play-off hole into the trees to give Duval no option but to chip back onto the fairway, and the British Open champion was then unable to convert a birdie putt from 20 feet.

Campbell's approach had amazingly skipped through the pond surrounding the 18th green "bouncing-bomb" style, but the Kiwis could not take advantage of their good fortune and only made par.

The Danes went on to make a straight-forward birdie, but Goosen was not done yet with the fireworks.

"I'd driven perfectly every day on the 18th apart from the play-off, and the second shot Retief hit from the fairway bunker was phenomenal," said Els.

"He had 240 yards to the flag and the only thing going for him was a good lie. He had to hit it under the tree and up onto the green with a two-iron and that was the shot of the tournament for us."

That left Denmark and South Africa to fight it out on the par four 14th, and Bjorn's wayward tee-shot into the trees meant par was good enough for the win and South Africa's fourth World Cup title.

"We actually hadn't made a bogey all week, and all of a sudden it came in the play-off, which was a bit unfortunate," admitted Bjorn.

"I hit one bad shot on the second play-off hole and that cost us a chance to win the tournament.

"But we're very happy with what we did. For Soren it was a great week. It was a taste for him of what he can look to in the future.

"He's got a huge talent and it was nice for him to go out in a play-off with players like David, Tiger, Ernie and Retief and get a taste of that."