George, South Africa ? Tiger Woods called it one of his “most nerve-racking moments ever.” Ernie Els couldn’t make his legs stop shaking.

The best players in the world were in a sudden-death playoff Sunday with the Presidents Cup riding on every shot following a stunning comeback by the Americans.

“You let everyone down with one putt,” Woods said. “That’s a lot of pressure.”

Their captains felt it was too much pressure for one player, so when the playoff between golf’s biggest names ended, it lacked one thing — a winner. Woods and Els each made their putts under pressure on the third extra hole. Then, as darkness gathered over the Links Course at Fancourt, captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player decided they had seen enough.

The International team grudgingly accepted a tie until it was told that the United States — as defending champion — would retain the cup. About the time the International team said it wanted to return today to finish the playoff, the Americans countered with an offer to share the cup.

“I think it’s the perfect decision,” Woods said. “To have two guys decide the fate of the whole team in extra holes like that, I don’t think any of the sides felt comfortable with that to begin with. We’re here as a team. And we’d like to decide it as a team.”

The Americans, trailing by three points going into the final session of singles, charged back behind Woods, Charles Howell III and Jay Haas and clutch play from Jerry Kelly, Kenny Perry and Chris DiMarco.

They were poised to win until Davis Love III muffed a chip on the par-5 18th and took bogey, halving his match with Robert Allenby to give each team 17 points.