NICK Price needed only a routine par to defeat Tom Kite in a

sudden-death play-off yesterday in the Grand Slam of Golf in La Quinta,

California.

Both men completed the regulation 36 holes in 137, seven under par.

Price played without a bogey in a round of 67 that included birdies on

two of the last three holes, while Kite unleashed one of the great

rounds of his life, a 10-under-par 62 that included 10 birdies, an

eagle, two bogeys, and two birdie putts that hung on the lip of the cup

with the ball partially over the hole.

Fred Couples carded a second-round 71 and was third on 142, while Nick

Faldo trailed the field of this year's winners of golf's major

tournaments on 143.

Kite started the day five shots behind Price and lost another stroke

at the first. But he then began his charge. He birdied the second and

then had five birdies in seven holes.

Kite's amazing run continued and he and Price were locked on 137 after

36 holes and went to the play-off hole, where Kite made a bogey to

Price's winning par.

137 -- N Price (Zimb) 70, 67; T Kite (USA) 75, 62. Price won at first

extra hole.

142 -- F Couples (USA) 71, 71.

143 -- N Faldo (GB) 72, 71.