GEORGE, South Africa, 24 November 2003 — The fifth Presidents Cup ended in disarray in gathering gloom yesterday before team captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player finally agreed the trophy would be shared for the first time.

World No. 1 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. Nicklaus and Player conferred for some time with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, as well as with their team members, before agreement was reached.

“In the spirit of the game, my guys have agreed that we will share the Cup,” said Nicklaus, who had earlier reminded Player that the United States, as holders, would retain the trophy.

At that point the Internationals camp indicated they would play on but after more talks an agreement to share was reached.

Els had lost to Woods in the last-day singles but held his nerve in the three extra holes. The South African world No. 3 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 US 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 US Masters winner Mike Weir of Canada.