Woods the ideal partner for Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods took care of business on Monday night as the best players of their generations lived up to their billing in the "Battle at Bighorn".

On a sweltering afternoon at Bighorn golf club here, Woods made nine birdies in 16 holes and carried Nicklaus to a 3 and 2 victory over Sergio Garcia and Lee Trevino.

Nicklaus made only a few contributions in the fourth annual televised exhibition match, but they were memorable. Despite an ailing back and 62-year-old legs, Nicklaus hit a seven-iron that kissed off the flagstick for a tap-in birdie on the ninth as he and Woods won four successive holes in the middle of the match. Woods was nine under par for his round when the match ended under the lights with a three-foot par putt on the 16th.

The 62-year-old Trevino contributed three birdies and most of the conversation. The only time he stopped talking was when he hit the ball. The night was not a total loss for Garcia, the 22-year-old Spaniard known lately for his countless waggles and regrips.

Nicklaus tried to counsel him on the strange habit, telling Garcia that he, too, was guilty of slow play. "Finally, I had a couple of penalty times and I learned to play faster," Nicklaus said.

Nicklaus had not played with Woods since the first two rounds of the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla, where Woods went on to win in a play-off for his third of four consecutive majors. "I know now that I have no business playing on the regular tour," Nicklaus said. "If you see the way Tiger and Sergio play, there's no such thing as a par-five any more. My partner was great. And I like to win."

So does Woods, who came out with a focus that belied the low-key event. Garcia is the only player to have beaten Woods in the Battle at Bighorn, and Woods seemed bent on gaining some revenge in the middle of a team event.

It all led to a far more compelling event than last year, when hot blasts of desert wind, ridiculously tough conditions and an alternate-shot format made for a lack of atmosphere in a mixed-team match featuring Woods and Annika Sorenstam against David Duval and Karrie Webb.

This year, with temperatures reaching 41C, Woods got off to a blazing start by hitting his approach six feet from the hole for a birdie at the first.

At the eighth hole, Nicklaus hit the shot that brought out the loudest roar of the match – a seven-iron that hit the flag and stopped only a foot away from the hole.

Trevino and Woods slapped hands as the crowd roared. This time, there was plenty to applaud.