‘Battle’ Is Won Near the End

Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia saved their best for the bright lights.

Mickelson and Garcia, each winless this year in tournaments that count, stole the spotlight from the world’s best two players Monday night by defeating Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, 3 and 1, in the “Battle at the Bridges.”

It was the fifth version of Monday Night Golf, the made-for-TV exhibition designed to bring golf to prime time. This one featured the best golf and the least amount of fun.

All four of them were grinding, halving seven consecutive holes on the back nine as Mickelson and Garcia, who never trailed, clung to a 1-up lead.

When the sun dropped behind the foothills and the lights came on, Garcia and Mickelson shined. Both hit their second shots over the water to the 571-yard 16th hole.

Els hit his approach into the water, and Woods caught a bunker left of the green. Garcia, who had missed several birdie putts that could have given his team a big lead, finally came through with a 30-footer that was true as soon as it left his putter.

That gave them a 2-up lead, and they closed out Woods and Els on the 17th hole when the No. 1 and 2 players in the world failed to come close to a birdie.

Garcia and Mickelson were a combined eight-under-par through 17 holes. They each earned $600,000 from the $1.7-million purse, and Woods and Els each got $250,000.

It was only the second time Woods has lost since the Monday night exhibitions began in 1999, both times to Garcia.

Woods went back to his old Titleist driver for the first time in 18 months, but that was never a problem on the Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe.

“I had good looks at putts on three holes in a row and I didn’t make them,” Woods said. “That was key to getting back to even.”

Woods, who has struggled with his Nike driver this year, switched to his old Titleist more for control than distance.

He is 128th in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this year, hitting the fairway 64.5% of the time.

It marks the first time he has gone to old clubs after switching to Nike. He started playing the Nike golf ball in May 2000, and switched to Nike irons in September.

Woods continues to use a Titleist three-wood, wedges and putter.