The score was 5 and 3, the first time Woods ever lost in as few as 15 holes.
Nicklaus was ware of Woods' shabby record in better ball, not that it mattered.
"Tiger would be the logical one to be sitting this morning because his fourball record has not been particularly good," Nicklaus said. "But if I sat Tiger, not only would he shoot me, but everyone in South Africa would shoot me, too."
Woods had no explanation for his record.
"I've never liked fourball, because it takes seven hours to play," he joked. "I've played some of my best golf in fourball and didn't win."
He would have had a tough time explaining a loss in alternate-shot that followed.
Woods and Howell built a 4-up lead with five holes to play when Clark and Retief Goosen won the next two holes.
Clark missed an eagle putt on the 16th, and Woods only had to make a 4-footer for birdie to retain the 2-up lead. Shockingly, he pulled it left and saw it ripple over the cup.
The pressure began mounting.
Woods' tee shot was just over the back of the 17th green, but Howell lagged beautifully for a par that was conceded, keeping the lead at 1-up.
From a downhill lie in the fairway, Goosen hit his second shot on the par-5 18th to 4.5m behind the hole. Clark's eagle putt for a halve turned away to the left.
Howell chipped to 4 feet, giving Woods a nervy putt for the win.
He clenched his fist when it dropped and was swarmed by his teammates who had gathered around the 18th green.
Asked about the importance of the putt, Woods replied, "It felt like I was trying to win a tournament."
This one was only worth one point, and it was harder to come by than the rest of the points earned by the Americans.
Still, it might go a long way toward helping the US keep the cup.
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