By Tim Dahlberg
Associated Press
Monday, August 28

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- The first one with David Duval was supposed to fuel a rivalry. Now, as Tiger Woods returns to prime time Monday night against Sergio Garcia (8 p.m. ET, ABC), it's merely a chance for more viewers to see Woods in action.

	Tiger Woods has now won nearly $7.7 million this season on the PGA Tour.

Woods and Garcia meet in the "Battle of Bighorn," a made-for-television event that pays the winner $1.1 million and gives prime-time viewers a chance to watch Woods in live action.

Unlike his match last year against Duval, though, this one is purely for entertainment purposes.

While last year's show matched the world's top two players, the encore features a struggling Garcia against the player who has redefined winning since he beat Duval a year ago in the "Showdown at Sherwood."

About the only thing Garcia and ABC can hope for is the match goes long enough to turn the portable lights on the final holes at Bighorn Golf Club, though Woods is taking nothing for granted.

"In a match-play situation, anything can happen," Woods said. "That's the beauty of it."

Garcia has yet to win on the PGA Tour and got his spot in the event largely because he is charismatic and is represented by the same IMG sports agency that handles Woods.

A better pick might have been Bob May, so he and Woods could recreate their thrilling duel just eight days earlier in the PGA Championship.

That leaves little at stake except some television ratings and $1.5 million in prize money.

Oh, and a bit of pride, too.

"I'm not going to lay down for him, that's for sure," said Woods, who earned $1 million on Sunday with an 11-stroke victory in the NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

It's not likely to match the drama of the PGA, where Woods and May went head-to-head down the stretch at Valhalla Golf Club. But it is a chance for viewers to bond again with Woods.

It worked last year, when Woods beat Duval in the inaugural match, and enough people tuned in to give it a 6.9 national rating and a 12 share. And ABC is hoping it will work again, although it was CBS that televised the real drama in the PGA only eight days ago.

"That's why we're playing -- to get people involved in the game," Woods said.

Well, not entirely.

For what will be 3&3189; hours or less work at Bighorn, the winner will take home $1.1 million, while the loser will have to console himself with $400,000.

While Duval was competitive last year -- losing 2 and 1 at Sherwood Country Club -- this year's match at first glance appears to be more of a mismatch. Garcia has not won this year, and struggled over the weekend in the Reno-Tahoe Open while Woods dominated the far more prestigious NEC Invitational.

"He's young, charismatic," Woods said. "Even though he hasn't played up to his standards, he's still playing good enough. And in a match play situation, anything can happen. That's the beauty of it."

Of course, the way Woods has played this year, pairing him with anyone might be considered a mismatch.

Not that the final score of the made-for-television event matters much, anyway. Like the old Shell Wonderful World of Golf matches, it is merely a showcase.

"I think that people like to watch Tiger play and like to watch Sergio play, too," Garcia said. "It is good for golf and good for us."

The first two holes of Monday's match will be taped before the show actually goes live, and lights have been set up on the finishing holes in case the match goes the distance under darkening desert skies.

Unlike last year, plans are to have live microphones on the players, although Woods doesn't usually engage in much idle chitchat in any competition.