The United States last night retained the UBS Cup after a dramatic 12-12 tie with the Rest of the World at Sea Island, Georgia.

Eduardo Romero looked like securing the visitors' first victory in the Ryder Cup-style event when he led Scott Hoch with one hole to play in the decisive 12th singles match.

But the 49-year-old Argentinian bogeyed the 18th and had to settle for half a point, meaning unlike the Presidents Cup's controversial finish earlier in the day, Arnold Palmer's side kept the trophy as defending champions.

Hale Irwin had set the ball rolling for the home side with a record-breaking 7 and 5 thrashing of Bernhard Langer, and Bruce Lietzke and Mark O'Meara quickly added more points with 6 and 5 wins over Barry Lane and Ian Woosnam.

Captain Tony Jacklin stopped the rot with victory over his opposite number, Arnold Palmer, and Nick Faldo then levelled the match scores with a two-hole victory over Curtis Strange.

Colin Montgomerie birdied the last to halve his match with Tom Watson and veterans Des Smyth and Bill Longmuir then appeared to have swung the contest the visitors' way with crucial wins over Craig Stadler and Rocco Mediate.

But Brad Faxon held on to beat Carl Mason 2 and 1 and the first of two crucial halved matches kept the US alive. Australia's Rodger Davis left a 10 foot putt to win his match on the 17th inches short and bogeyed the last to halve with Ray Floyd. And then Romero saw Hoch eagle the par-five 15th as he recovered from two down with four to play.

Romero, who had won his previous two matches alongside Vicente Fernandez, said: "We played well all week and to finish like this is disappointing.

"It's a great competition and I want to come back next year and maybe then we can win."

Earlier in the day, Irwin was an approximate nine under par for the 13 holes necessary to beat European Ryder Cup captain Langer. The 58-year-old three-time US Open champion was four shots better than the previous lowest score to par. The margin of victory was also the biggest ever in the competition and Irwin twice equalled the record for most consecutive birdies, carding four in a row from the second to the fifth and eighth to 11th.

Langer, who famously halved his 1991 Ryder Cup singles match with Irwin as the US won by a single point at Kiawah Island, said: "It was an awesome display of shot-making and putting and I hated to see it end here because he could have shot 59 today. That's some of the best golf I've seen in the last 30 years."

Former Ryder Cup captain Jacklin experienced defeat for only the second time in his captaincy career, but at least had the consolation of beating Palmer.

"It's a thrill to play with Arnold after all he has done for the game of golf over the years. He beat me in the Ryder Cup in 1967 when we could both play a bit and I thought he was going to get me today too, but now we're even," said Jacklin.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

United States names first:

Singles: Arnold Palmer lost to Tony Jacklin 1 hole; Curtis Strange lost to Nick Faldo 2 holes; Tom Watson halved with Colin Montgomerie; Hale Irwin bt Bernhard Langer 7 and 5; Bruce Lietzke bt Barry Lane 6 and 5; Craig Stadler lost to Des Smyth 1 hole; Mark O'Meara bt Ian Woosnam 6 and 5; Rocco Mediate lost to Bill Longmuir 1 hole; Ray Floyd halved with Rodger Davis; Brad Faxon bt Carl Mason 2 and 1; Hal Sutton bt Vicente Fernandez 2 and 1; Scott Hoch halved with Eduardo Romero.

Match Result: USA 12, Rest of the World 12. United States retain trophy.