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MML „ jlj I %\\t (Bamecock Sergio’s last stand iust enough to put Tiger away at golf s Bighorn by Tim Dahlberg Associated Press PALM DESERT, Ca. — Perhaps the PGA Tour should switch to night golf. For one night, at least, Tiger Woods seemed almost vulnerable under the lights. Sergio Garcia put on a Tiger like finish Monday night to do what no one seems able to do in regular day events—beat Woods down the stretch. Garcia’s four birdies in the last five holes was too much for an ailing Woods to overcome — though he nearly did by almost holing a pitch shot under the bright lights lining the 18th hole. And Woods didn’t exactly play poorly, making five birdies against no bogeys. Garcia just played a little bet ter at the end, when Woods usually shines, to beat him 1-up. “It was different, playing under the lights like other athletes do,” Woods said. “Overall, it was very exciting. It was a wonderful match.” The made-for-television “Battle at Bighorn” paid $1.1 million to Garcia and $400,000 to Woods, who battled the flu and a brutal schedule that saw him win the NEC Invitation al a night earlier and do a clinic in Akron, Ohio, on Monday morning be fore flying to the desert. “I’ve had bet ter days, and I’ve had shorter days,” Woods said. “It was a long day and I enjoyed it. I just wish I could have felt a bit better.” Garcia was feeling fine after sinking a 35-footer on the 16th hole, then a 10-footer for birdie on 18 to clinch the match, as golf returned to prime time on ABC. “He’s by far the best golfer in the world,” Garcia said. “I just made some putts when I had to.” Woods, coming off wins in the PGA Championship a week earlier and the NEC Invitational on Sunday night, fought the flu as well as fatigue but still lost by only a hole. “I’m so cold. I’m freezing,” Woods said to caddie Steve Williams as he waited to putt on the 17th hole on a warm night in the desert. Darkness descended on the desert course by the 14th hole, with players and fans straining to see the shots. But floodlights perched atop cranes lit the last four holes, and that was where Gar cia shone. “Over those last holes, I just felt so good with the putter,” Garcia said. Woods still had a chance on the 18th, nearly holing a pitch over a green side bunker to within 3 feet of the hole. But Garcia, who had pitched to 10 feet, made his putt and the match was over. “At least I gave Seigio a run for his money,” Woods said. “He "had to make some putts to earn it.” For Wxxls, it was the end to a stretch of golf that saw him win in a thrilling finish at the PGA and in a runaway at the NEC. “I’ve had three pretty good weeks,” Woods said. “The last few months have been good to me. But it builds up. My body just broke down a couple days short.” Woods finished off the field in near darkness Sunday to win the NEC in Akron, Ohio, then flew across the country Monday, and he and Garcia needed lights to finish the final holes. The darker it got, the better Gar cia played. Garcia made eight birdies, five on the back nine, against a pair of bogeys for what would have been a 66 in medal play. Woods didn’t make a bogey, but managed only five birdies, including the conceded putt on the final hole, for a medal 67. CBS Sports buys rights to SEC Championship by Kyle Almond The Gamecock . CBS Sports, which holds the rights to broadcast Southeastern Conference regular-season football games, has now acquired the exclusive rights to broadcast the 2001 SEC Football Championship game. The deal was announced last Thursday by Sean McManus, Presi dent of CBS Sports, and Roy Kramer, commissioner of the SEC. The SEC Championship, the an nual match-up between the regular season champions of the SEC East ern and Wfestem Division, is currently broadcast by ABC Sports. “This agreement is a testament to CBS Sports’ commitment to broad cast the best events in college sports,” McManus said. “The SEC Champi onship annually delivers one of th< most competitive matchups in col lege football and we are extremeh excited to add the event to an already outstanding lineup on the CB! Television Network.” In 1998, CBS Sports reached ; multi-year contract extension witl SEC to broadcast its regular seasoi football games. Beginning in 2001 the new agreement will expand CB! Sports’ current commitment and pro vide moit exclusive national cover age of SEC home games throughou the season. Primetime and double header options are also possibilitie: under the new deal. “We are very pleased to havs reached this agreement with CBS a: it will make possible the promotion and marketing of our football cham pionship game throughout the year in association with our regular sea son television partner,” > Kramer said. Last season in the SEC Champi i onship, SEC West champions Alaba i ma defeated SEC East champions i Florida, 34-7, at the Geoigia Dome. This year, the title game will be held once again in Atlanta, on Dec. 2. CBS Sports’ first championship will air Dec. 1, 2001. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com. PSU unranked for first time since 1992 by Richard Rosenblatt Associated Press Penn State lost more than the Kickoff Classic over the weekend: The Nittany Lions are out of The As sociated Press Top 25 college foot ball poll for the first time since the end of the 1992 season. Soundly beaten by USC 29-5 on Sunday, Penn State saw its streak of being ranked in 119 consecutive polls end Monday with the release of the AP’s first regular-season ratings. The Nittany Lions, who had the fourth-longest run of consecutive rank ings behind Nebraska, Florida State and Florida, entered the game ranked 22nd. The last time the Lions were unranked was in the final poll of the 1992 season, when they finished 7 5 after a loss to Stanford in the Block buster Bowl. Nebraska and Florida State re mained 1-2 in this week’s poll as the top 11 were unchanged from the pre season poll. The Comhuskers, who open their season Saturday against San Jose State, collected 35 first-place votes and 1,728 points from the 71 sports writers and broadcasters on the panel. The Semi noles, 29-3 winners over BYU in the Pigskin Classic, had 30 first-place votes and 1,723 points. Alabama, which opens its sea son Saturday at UCLA, was third with three first-place votes and 1,577 points, followed by No. 4 Wisconsin and No. 5 Miami. The Badgers, who had one first place vote, and the Hurricanes open their seasons Thursday night. Wis consin plays Western Michigan, while Miami goes against McNeese State. Michigan was No. 6, followed by No. 7 Texas (two first-place votes), No. 8 Kansas State, No. 9 Florida and No. 10 Georgia. K-State opened with a 27-7 win over Iowa in the Eddie Robinson Classic. Virginia Tech, which had its game against Georgia Tech postponed by violent thunderstorms and light ning, was No. 11, followed by No. 12 USC (up three spots), No. 13 Ten nessee, No. 14 Washington, No. 15 Purdue, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 17 Clemson, No. 18 Mississippi, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 20 TCU. Illinois was No. 21, followed by No. 22 Southern Mississippi, No. 23 Colorado, No. 24 Michigan State and No. 25 Texas A&M. The Aggies, the only new team in the poll, open at Notre Dame on Sat urday. Nebraska’s streak of consecu tive poll appearances is up to 310, fol lowed by Florida State’s 184 and Flori da’s 178. In the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, the top five are Nebraska, Flori da State, Alabama, Michigan and Wis consin. The Lowest Priced s 800mhz Jmrnmmmm Notebook M L*X*X*J in America: I Back to School, Back to Work! Start off right with this NEW WinBook Si. It's a full-featured notebook from the com pany that repeatedly brings you value ^I priced notebooks. We have won over 200 Awards ' '"„z^,* W'ii'\ ! Compare our 800 MHz notebook to the ^^competition and you’ll see what a great T* y38|k notebook this can be lor you! Use your Internet Offer Code and visit our _website Speed 750 MHz 750 MHx 700 MHZ 800 MHz • Intel* Pentium' III processor onpiay w-rffr HrTFT JHJH. 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But, Palms said, ‘ ’There’s a lot more to his job than that.” McGee’s style, like that of a For tune 500 chairman, is centered on - results. He says people don’t think in commercial terms about college sports. ’’But there’s a lead time that’s 'required” to improve.” he said, ‘ ’The impact of it, you don’t see for sev eral years. That’s all part of devel oping a program that’s successful.” Like soccer? Volleyball? Gamecock Sports needs writers to cover women’s sports this fall. Call 777-7182 for more details. Need a part-time job to help offset school expenses? books, tuition, supplies... Call InterMedi© today to find out how you can become a part of our award winning sales team! $9.00 per hour guaranteed! Day and evening hours are available. Paid training, no experience required! 1-888-877-4939 InterMedi© Marketing Solutions • Columbia I” welcomes our nooaJ^^mhmber class A| ,, mm * ffl ■ r1 JBSt > nrPiammK^T0repern ■