BBC SPORT | Golf | Woods snatches thrilling victory

A birdie on the 72nd hole saw England's Justin Rose finish an impressive third on 19 under par, with compatriot Greg Owen two shots back in fourth.

The final pairing went down the 18th for the first time tied at 20 under, and both hit wayward irons to the fringes of the green.

Woods had the longer putt but holed confidently from eight feet, before Montgomerie did the same to take the players back to the tee for the first extra hole.

This time both players found the green with their second shots, but Woods took the advantage by getting within 15 feet with a magnificent six iron.

Justin Rose got within a stroke on the last
But the world number one saw his putt run agonisingly around the lip of the hole, allowing Montgomerie to stay alive by holing from eight feet.

With the tension increasing both players found the rough on their third attempt at the 18th, but managed to get up and down for yet another pair of pars.

Finally, on the fourth crack at the 18th, came a serious error.

Montgomerie's drive found the bunker and from a bad lie he went into the water, while Woods again made the edge of the green and two-putted for the title.

Woods had started the final round one stroke behind Montgomerie, and it was the Scot who started more impressively with three birdies.

But by the turn the pressure was mounting as Woods went close with a succession of birdie putts.

The American finally went ahead as Montgomerie dropped a shot on the 13th but it was level again when the Scot birdied the 15th.

And despite the constant threat posed by Rose in the penultimate pairing, the tournament came down to a battle of nerves around the final green.

Final round leaderboard (GB & Ire if not stated):

20 under - Tiger Woods (USA), Colin Montgomerie (Woods won at third play-off hole)
19 under - Justin Rose
17 under - Greg Owen
15 under - Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg)
13 under - Thomas Bjorn (Den), Ian Woosnam, Marten Olander (Swe)
12 under - Anders Hansen (Den), Angel Cabrera (Arg), Richard Green (Aus)


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