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BARBADOS - Germany won the golf World Cup for the second time with a gripping playoff victory over Scotland at Sandy Lane Resort's Country Club Course here today.
European Tour veteran Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem edged out Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren with a par-three at the first extra hole, Montgomerie having missed his own attempt there from four feet.
The teams had finished the 72 regulation holes on 16-under-par 268, Germany carding a superb five-under 66 in the foursomes (alternate shot) format and Scotland closing with a 69.
Germany's previous victory came in 1990 when Langer and Torsten Giedeon triumphed in Orlando, Florida.
Sweden, one stroke clear at the start of a damp and overcast day before losing ground over the front nine, had a chance to join the playoff but Carl Pettersson missed a five-foot par putt at the last.
He and Henrik Stenson had to settle for third place at 15 under after carding a 72 with South Africa's Rory Sabbatini and Richard Sterne a stroke behind in fourth after a 68.
Germany, five strokes off the pace overnight, led by one shot with two holes to play before Langer missed an eight-foot par putt at the 17th.
The ice-cool European Tour veteran then struck a superb tee shot to within 10 feet of the flag at the par-three last but Siem narrowly missed the birdie attempt.
"That putt was pretty quick and finished on the wrong side," the pony-tailed Siem told reporters.
"We missed just one fairway and one green today and that was 17 -- a bogey straightaway."
Langer, competing in his 12th World Cup but first since 1996, paid tribute to his team mate.
"We've had a great week and it's fun to play with each other," he said.
"He played flawless golf today -- really, really good stuff."
Argentina, bidding for their first World Cup title in more than 50 years, shared the lead with nine holes to play before slipping back into a tie for fifth at 13 under with the United States (69) and Spain (69).
Angel Cabrera and Andres Romero both struggled on the greens, three-putting on nine and 10 on their way to a four-bogey 73.
England's Luke Donald and David Howell, pre-tournament favourites as the highest-ranked team in the field, failed to spark for the third day in a row.
The Ryder Cup players mixed two bogeys with a solitary birdie en route to a 72 and a tie for 15th at six under in the final World Golf Championships event of the year.
- REUTERS
