Golf Notes May 16

Tiger Woods beat David Duval in the ``Showdown at Sherwood'' and lost to Sergio Garcia under the lights in the ``Battle of Bighorn.'' Should there be another made-for-TV exhibition this year, he'll have to share the victory or defeat.

Another prime-time match is in the works that would be far different than the other two - a team competition, feature Woods and the other best players in golf.

Women's golf.

According to three sources close to the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Woods and David Duval would play a mixed-team match with Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb.

All four are clients of IMG, which has put together the past two exhibitions. All four have been ranked No. 1 over the past three years.

Mark Steinberg at IMG, who represents Woods and Sorenstam, declined comment. When asked if there would be another prime-time exhibition, he said, ``We don't have anything scheduled at this time.''

Two years ago, when Webb was dominating the LPGA Tour and there were suggestions she play Woods from a different set of tees, Steinberg shot down the idea because neither Woods nor Webb had anything to gain.

A mixed-team format would put everyone's game on display, draw interest because of Woods, and could be a boost for women's golf.

But it's not a done deal.

One source involved in the discussions laid out three issues - the schedules of the four players, the interest of the four players and Woods' relationship with Disney. Woods is negotiating an endorsement deal with Disney, and such an exhibition could be affected if it is televised by ABC Sports.

``Any one of those issues could kibosh it a little bit,'' the source said.

The source said the scheduling can be worked out, and that three of the four players like the idea, with the fourth one leaning toward doing it.

If Woods and Disney work out an endorsement deal, the ultimate ``mixer'' in golf might not be too far behind.

LORD BYRON'S MESSAGE

The top players on the PGA Tour almost always come to the Byron Nelson Classic each year out of respect to the host.

In a gesture that explains his class and the respect he receives, Nelson left a videotape in the locker of every player that showed how the money raised for charity affects 3,500 children in the area through the Salesmanship Club of Dallas.

The tape was accompanied by a note.

``Please take just nine minutes to learn more about the programs of the Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers,'' it said.

Several players said they didn't have a VCR and had not watched the videotape, but planned to at some point.

``It means a lot for a legend like him to take care of us like he always does,'' Sergio Garcia said. ``He's a great man, better than a great player.''

HARDING WAITS

The original plan was for the Tour Championship to be played at Harding Park in San Francisco in 2003, and make it part of a three-course rotation for the season-ending tournament.

Once again, Harding Park is on hold.

Arnold Palmer Golf Management and KemperSports Management have turned down contracts to renovate the municipal course where Ken Venturi learned to play, and the PGA Tour is waiting to hear from the city what the next step is.

``The clock is ticking what year we might play there,'' said Henry Hughes, the tour's chief of operations. ``Our agronomy people tell us that to hit '03, we need to be into construction by the end of summer. The fact we don't have a vendor leads you to believe it won't happen.''

For now, the rotation remains at two - Champions Golf Club in Houston and East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

CHASING A TIGER

While Charles Howell has never played with Tiger Woods as a professional, they did face each other in the third round of the 1996 U.S. Amateur.

Howell was going into his senior year of high school, while Woods was a 20-year-old in his final tournament before turning pro. Howell gave him a good battle before losing, 3 and 1.

``Well, I didn't lose 10 and 8, so I'm happy,'' Howell said at the time. ``I knew I would have to play real, real good to beat him and I didn't play good enough to beat Tiger Woods.''

Five years later, not much has changed.

STROKE UPDATE

Along with his strong play in the Byron Nelson Classic to tie for sixth, Justin Leonard's 19 birdies meant a contribution of $28,500 by Bayer Aspirin to the American Stroke Association.

Bayer is donating $1,500 for every birdie Leonard and Meg Mallon make during the month of May. Mallon made 15 birdies in tying for 17th in Tennessee, and along with 18 birdies the previous week in Georgia has accounted for a $49,500 donation.

CAPONI MEMENTO

One of the most meaningful clubs in the 23-year Hall of Fame career of Donna Caponi wasn't even hers.

Caponi, elected to the Hall of Fame last week through the Veteran's Committee, used to spend her winters practicing with Dave Stockton out of the same club in California. Late in 1976, Stockton told Caponi he thought her putting was holding her back.

So, he gave her the Ray Cook model putter that he used to win the PGA Championship that summer at Congressional.

``I had putted with a Ray Cook before, but he said, 'This is the one,''' Caponi said. ``And I won a bunch after that.''

DIVOTS

The men's NCAA Championship starts May 30 at Duke University Golf Course, which holds special significance for Rees Jones Jr. Not only did he renovate the course designed by his father, but Jones competed for Yale on the original Duke course when the NCAA was played there in 1962. ... Colin Montgomerie has decided to play in the English Open instead of coming to America for a U.S. Open tuneup at the St. Jude Classic. ... Buick has Tiger, and now the teacher. It signed a promotional agreement with Butch Harmon and his golf schools in Las Vegas and the Bahamas. As part of the deal, Harmon gets two new cars.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Annika Sorenstam has a 68.90 scoring average, which is .95 better than anyone else on the LPGA Tour. Tiger Woods' average is 68.73 for a .37 lead over the next player on the PGA Tour.

FINAL WORD

``Probably Boston. And I didn't even have any clubs.'' - Ben Crenshaw, on the last time he had fun on a golf course.

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