GOLF: KUEHNE, WOODS AIR OWN SURVIVAL SHOW TIGER'S TEAMMATE BATTLES NERVES EARLY.

Byline: Larry Morgan Staff Writer

RANCHO SANTA FE - Golf in prime-time telecasts such as Monday's Lincoln Financial Battle at the Bridges can have decidedly mixed results. They not only can bring out the best in players, but the worst, too.

Hank Kuehne was the latest case in point at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club, where he and Tiger Woods teamed up to defeat John Daly and Phil Mickelson, 2 and 1.

Kuehne, a rookie in these nationally televised events, struggled through an embarrassing front nine before he and Woods combined to go 5-under-par over the last four holes and erased an early, two-hole deficit. Kuehne and Woods split $1 million and Daly and Mickelson shared $400,000.

``I'm not going to lie,'' the 1998 U.S. Amateur champion said. ``I was extremely nervous, and I was out of my comfort zone for a little while. But I finally started to feel more comfortable.''

It was the ninth hole that was the main topic of conversation after the match. Woods and Kuehne halved the hole with a birdie - Woods just missed chipping in from off the green for eagle - but it was Kuehne's drive on the par-5, 571-yard hole that had everyone talking.

Laughing, actually.

``That was one of the worst shots I've ever hit in competition,'' Kuehne said. ``I think I got it past the ladies tees.''

The drive was estimated at no more than 130 yards. Kuehne was forced to chip out back onto the fairway, and his third shot went into a water hazard fronting the green. However, Woods picked up for his struggling teammate and halved the hole.

``That was probably the worst shot hit by anybody up here,'' Kuehne said as he and the others talked about the competition. ``But that's why it's a team ... we made four.''

Woods said he sympathized with his struggling teammate.

``We're all nervous because we care,'' said Woods, who had the shot of the match when he sank a 25-footer for an eagle on the par-5, 534-yard 16th hole to put his team 2-up. He and Woods closed out the match on the par-3 17th when Daly and Mickelson just missed birdies to force another hole.

``You just have to stick with it,'' Woods said.

The competition actually got off to an impressive start when Mickelson and Woods halved the first hole with birdies - Mickelson made a 5-footer and Woods just missed an eagle from 25 feet - and Woods and Kuehne took the early lead on the next hole when Woods birdied from 7 feet. Mickelson and Daly then responded by winning the next three holes.

Kuehne missed a 5-footer for par to halve the third hole, Daly made a 20-footer for birdie to win the par-3 fifth and Mickelson's 8-footer for par was good enough to win the sixth hole and give his team a 2-up lead.

``We were laughing and giggling on the front nine,'' said Mickelson, who is a member at The Bridges and lives about five minutes from the course. ``Then it got quiet real quick.''

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Photo:

Hank Kuehne drives into a hazard on No. 5, but teams with Tiger Woods to win the Battle at the Bridges.

Denis Poroy/Associated Press