Woods & Duval Win World Cup

Listening to Tiger Woods, you would think David Duval single-handedly won the World Cup of Golf for the United States.

Woods played a role Sunday, too.

With host Argentina making a run while cheered on by thousands of spectators, Woods sank a 40-foot birdie putt at the 11th hole to give the U.S. team a cushion it wouldn't relinquish en route to a three-shot victory and the $1 million top prize.

"David played great all week, and he really carried us," Woods said. "I only made one putt. Other than that, I didn't feel like I did much of anything."

That putt was significant.

Woods and Duval entered the day with a three-stroke lead over Argentina's Eduardo Romero and Angel Carbera. That had been whittled to one shot when the Americans got to the par-3, 146-yard 11th hole.

Duval's tee shot, perhaps caught by heavy winds, carried well left of the pin. Woods, playing next in the alternate-shot format, calmly sank the slightly downhill putt to build a two-stroke lead.

Argentina then bogeyed the 13th and 14th holes and never challenged again.

"Other than that I didn't think I did much of anything," Woods said. "I thought we struck the ball well today but I didn't putt so well. My partner over here bailed me out time and time again. Thank goodness that he was there because I didn't hit good putts I either ran wide or left them short."

Woods and Duval combined to shoot a 4-under-par 68 Sunday, finishing at 34-under 254 for the tournament. It was the 23rd U.S. title in 46 World Cups and the second in a row for Woods, who teamed with Mark O'Meara last year.

While Woods struggled in the early rounds, Duval kept the team in contention with his long drives and precision putting.

They combined for six birdies in the final round.

Twenty-four nations competed in the event, which mixed alternate-shot and four-ball play. Players had to deal with blustery winds, searing temperatures and threats of rain.

The ninth hole, a par-5, 495-yarder, brought a surprise bogey for Woods, who said he simply slipped: "I took the club back on my left foot, I flinched. I hit it fat and made it airborne."

Romero eagled that hole for Argentina, sending up the biggest roar of the day. The Argentines birdied 15 and 17, but it wasn't enough as the U.S. team birdied the 14th and then closed with four straight pars.

Romero and Cabrera finished with 68 on the day for a 257. Paraguay's Carlos Franco, a PGA Tour regular, joined with Esteban Isasi to take third place after a final round 67 for a 265.

Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and Hidejmichi Tanaka were fourth at 266, with Scotland's Paul Lawrie and Gary Orr two strokes back.

Last year, Woods teamed with O'Meara to win in Malaysia by five strokes over Spain. Woods also carried the individual title last year by nine strokes with a 21-under 263, both tournament records. This year, the individual title was eliminated.

The United States has dominated the tournament over the past decade. Fred Couples and Davis Love III won four straight titles between 1992 and 1995.

But the U.S. team didn't gain the upper hand this week until Saturday's third round, which used the best-ball format.

Asked if the pair would defend their title next year in Japan, Duval said it would be up to Woods to decide.

"Unless he misses cuts for the next two straight years, he's going to stay ranked No. 1. So it is up to him to (pick) a partner," Duval said.

Added Woods: "I would love to team up with David, if everything works out. We'll see what happens."

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