FINAL LEADERBOARD GB&Ire unless stated -19 T Woods (USA)*, E Els (SA) -18 R Green (Aus) -17 MA Jimenez (Spa), A Hansen (Den) -16 R Goosen (SA) -15 D Clarke, H Stenson (Swe) Selected others: -14 N Dougherty -12 B Dredge -11 P Casey * wins after play-off

The pair finished tied on 19 under, one shot ahead of Australian Richard Green, who led by one going down the 18th but dropped a shot to finish third.

Playing the 18th again, Els found the same trees that troubled Green and put his second shot into the water, ending with a bogey six to Woods' par five.

Denmark's Anders Hansen and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez tied for fourth.

Woods' victory was his 57th individual career win and his 14th individual play-off victory out of 16 worldwide.

The world number one led overnight on 16 under with Hansen but lost the lead early in his final round, blaming a lack of confidence in his swing.

Somehow I got lucky today Tiger Woods

"Today was a day I am very proud of. I was struggling pretty bad," said Woods, who won the Buick Invitational in a play-off on his seasonal return last week.

"I figured I just had to do something to hang in there with my short game and find some sort of golf swing. It was all over the place.

"Somehow I got lucky today. I didn't have it, but the guys didn't run away from me either.

"It's always special when you go head-to-head with Ernie. He played solidly all day, I was just trying to catch up.

Els bogeyed the first play-off hole to Woods' par

"But my list of things to work on is a lot shorter than it was this time last year."

Woods carded a final-round 69 compared to the 67 from Els, the defending champion and three-time winner.

But the pair profited when left-hander Green, the 1997 champion, found sand under the trees on the left of the 18th fairway and racked up a bogey six to end on 68.

Els had looked on the way to a record fourth win in the event as he came from two behind to take a two-stroke lead after birdies at the third, fourth and eighth.

This was the strongest field in the world this year and to almost win is fine Ernie Els

But Green fired four birdies in his last six holes to edge ahead before his last-hole disaster, and Els also fell foul of the left-hand rough on 18 in the play-off.

"That was my favourite tee shot of the whole tournament, five under on that hole for the week, an eagle and three birdies," said Els, who missed five months of last season with a knee injury.

"But there you go. I cannot complain. After all the hassle I had with the leg, to come back, this was the strongest field in the world this year, biggest week and to almost win it is fine."