Golf: Harrington dodges Tiger bite

THOUSAND OAKS - A collapse on the 14th hole nearly cost Padraig Harrington a victory in the Target World Challenge tournament in California yesterday.

He was spared thanks to an even more shocking meltdown by tournament host Tiger Woods.

After watching his eight-stroke lead evaporate to one, Harrington played the final four holes without a mistake and finished with a 1-under 71 for a two-stroke victory over Woods and a $US1 million payoff.

"I knew Tiger would come at me," Harrington said. "I heard someone say on No 13, 'Oh, Tiger is in his head.' I'm thinking, 'He's been in there all day'."

The Irishman created most of the pressure by taking a double bogey on No 14 that cut his lead to one stroke with four holes to play. What followed was just as surprising.

From the middle of the fairway on the par-5 16th, Woods pulled a 3-iron some 35m left of the green and into the trees in such a precarious lie that he couldn't even take a backswing. He had to chip in just to save par.

Needing a birdie on the final hole for a chance at a playoff, Woods blocked his approach well right of the green and took bogey.

"I had a pretty good shot at it," Woods said. "I had two bad swings, that cost me."

New Zealand's Michael Campbell had a strong finish to the tournament, putting up a 69 to end on 281, tied for 12th with Vijay Singh.

* New Zealand faded in the final round to finish in a share of fourth at the International Teams event in Argentina yesterday.

Waikato's Matthew Holten and Wellington's Bradley Iles produced their worst rounds of the tournament, a combined 13-over par 155 in demanding conditions at the Los Lagartos Country Club.

New Zealand finished with a combined 588, 20-over par for the four days, and a share of fourth place with the Netherlands, after lying in third place overnight at seven-over par.

They began the day four shots behind leaders South Africa, who had a one-stroke advantage over Australia.

The two leaders cleared away from the field, sharing the spoils on 576, eight-over par with Australia claiming the title on countback after bagging the day's best score, a four-over 146.

Mexico, the first round leaders, took third 11 shots back.

Holten shot a five-over 76. Illes, despite a birdie at the first hole, had a disappointing outward nine to blame for his eight-over 79.

- AGENCIES