Goosen Has Top Hand at Bridges

The lights went out on prime-time kicks and giggles golf Monday night, those lights barely used during an anticlimactic Battle at the Bridges that ended with the most lopsided result in its seven-year history.

Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen’s 5 and 3 rout over Tiger Woods and John Daly at the Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe was the first of the seven made-for-television events that failed to reach the bright lights of the 16th through 18th holes and was a fitting end to an event that has lost much of its luster during the six installments.

Woods is the centerpiece of the event, the only player to have appeared in all seven, and is the major reason for its existence. But officials from event organizer IMG, which represents Woods, said that the world’s top-ranked golfer would be taking a break from participating, probably meaning that the event will take a hiatus for as long as Woods does.

Woods did not indicate whether he is retiring from Monday night golf, saying that he felt the seven-year run had served its purpose.

“We’re trying to grow the game of golf, and we’ve done that,” he said. “We tried to keep it interesting, we tried to keep it fun for the audience, and what we’re trying to do is entertain the audience and bring golf to them as well, and [if] you look at over the years, we’ve done that.

“That’s one of the things that all of us who have been a part of this process for the last seven years, including the players ... we’re very proud of that.”

Nielsen Media Research reported that the 2000 incarnation of the event, the Battle at Bighorn, drew a 7.6 television rating when Sergio Garcia defeated Woods in head-to-head play. Since then, the ratings have dropped to 6.1 in 2001, 5.1 in 2002, 4.6 in 2003 and 3.6 last year. Each rating point represents about a million viewers.

The lack of drama Monday night -- “We got killed,” Woods said -- figures to mean poor ratings once again. The one saving grace for this year’s version was stellar play.

Mickelson had four birdies on the front nine, then Goosen took over on the back nine with four birdies in six holes. He made birdie putts of about 15 and 12 feet on Nos. 10 and 11 to give his team a 3-up lead and control with seven holes to play.

He made a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 13 for a 4-up lead, then closed the match when he hit a pitching wedge approach shot from 114 yards to within four feet and made the birdie putt.

Woods said the putts on Nos. 10 and 11 were the turning point, especially considering he had opportunities to match Goosen’s birdies on both holes. His five-foot attempt on No. 10 and a 12-footer on No. 11 hit the left lip and caromed out of the hole.

“If I make those two putts, we’re still only one down and we’re still right there in the match,” Woods said. “That was a turning point because the momentum went straight to their side and Goose just finished us off from there.”

Daly, who played 36 holes Sunday in a European Tour event, then flew all night in order to play Monday, clearly was tired. He shot 65 Sunday and finished third but struggled Monday.

“I wish I would have helped Tiger a lot more today,” Daly said. “I only helped with a couple holes. It’s a team event ... but Retief was the man today, no doubt about it.”

Woods and Daly took the first lead of the match when Woods made a six-foot birdie putt on No. 2. Mickelson and Goosen took a 1-up lead by winning Nos. 4 and 5. They halved the next four holes, Nos. 6, 7 and 9 with birdies, and Mickelson and Goosen maintained their 1-up lead as they made the turn before Goosen’s putter got hot.

“He is one of the best putters we have, and it was fun to be on the same team,” Mickelson said. “It’s bit me in the rear in the past playing against him, and I’ve wanted to break that putter many times, but tonight it was fun to have it on my side.”