Almost expect these cats to throw down

By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:31 PM PST ∞

LA JOLLA ---- It's not the Chargers-Patriots, Padres-Dodgers, San Diego State-Brigham Young or even Oceanside-El Camino.

Still the old track over at Torrey Pines Golf Course has a bona fide rivalry gathering steam.

In one corner is Tiger Woods, with his sights on his fourth straight Buick Invitational title.

In the other is Rory Sabbatini, who is still smarting from drawing Woods' stink eye for bailing on the world's No. 1 player's tournament in December. As hissy fits go, this is a long way from the Hatfields and the McCoys or Nick Hardwick and Richard Seymour.

But it's golf, the game of genteel gentlemen who report their own infractions and play to polite crowds acting like mannequins when a club is brought back.

So let's run with this Tussle at Torrey, the Stare Down on the South Course, the Battle above Black's Beach.

Woods and the ninth-ranked Sabbatini were on the same page Thursday ---- there's a switch ---- after shooting identical 67s and tying Stuart Appleby and Kevin Streelman for third place. That's two shots behind leader Troy Matteson.

Woods' six-birdie, one-bogey round came on the more demanding South Course, with Sabbatini's arriving from the North.

But these two pros' rapport went south long ago. And in a refreshing switch from the "your honors, my friend" world of golf, Woods and Sabbatini fussin' is the closest this sport comes to trash talking.

When asked about his relationship with Sabbatini, Woods said curtly, "It is what it is."

Just what is it? Sabbatini grabbed Tiger's tail last year and gave it a good yank.

Even when Woods blew past Sabbatini in the final round of the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C., Sabbatini said Woods was "more beatable than ever."

"I've seen Tiger when he hits the ball well," Sabbatini said. "I've seen him when he figures it out. It's scary. I don't want to see that anymore. I like the new Tiger."

Woods couldn't let that rip pass, so he gripped it and ripped right back.

"I figure I've won nine out of 12 (events at the time) and I've won three times this year ---- the same amount he's won in his career,'' Woods said in May. "So I like the new Tiger as well."

Hey, a cat fight!

Sabbatini threw down the gauntlet again in May at the Players Championship when wishing out loud that Woods would play well enough so they could be in the last group on Sunday. But that didn't occur until the Bridgestone Invitational in August, as Sabbatini clutched a one-shot lead over Woods entering the final round.

Woods plopped a 65 on the board to win; Sabbatini flopped with a 74.

But it gets better.

When playing last month in Woods' Target World Challenge, Sabbatini withdrew from the final round citing shin splints ---- never mind that he was 28 shots behind the first-place Woods.

"Sure he did,'' said Fred Couples, of Sabbatini's ailment. "And Roger Clemens' agent said he didn't do steroids."

What juiced Woods was Sabbatini exiting with $170,000 for finishing last for three days of work ---- it was the first withdrawal in the event's nine-year history.

Some players suggested Sabbatini give his earnings to Woods' charity foundation.

Instead, Sabbatini made a donation Wednesday to the United Through Reading Military Program, which connects deployed parents with their kids by allowing them to read books to their children on DVDs.

The amount of Sabbatini's donation? $170,000.

"Oh, that's good,'' Woods said.

A deflated Sabbatini said he was unfairly roasted for bailing on Tiger's tournament.

"You know, unfortunately the media took a lot of criticism towards me after the event, and in that situation I was there, I was tired,'' Sabbatini said, not making a ton of sense. "And we'd thought we put it to some good use."

Sabbatini is usually a wild hair in a sea of well-groomed golfers. The South African isn't shy about talking, but on Thursday he was unusually reserved.

Guess that happens after you tug on Superman's cape.

"As far I understand, there's no animosity,'' Sabbatini said. "We're both competitors, and we both want to win. That's the situation.''

Gotcha, and I have some beachfront property in Escondido to sell you.

"I haven't talked to him about any of it," Woods said, minus his trademark smile.

Sabbatini continued, saying that Woods doesn't get under his skin. But it's obvious Sabbatini got under Woods', and that's never a good thing.

"He's messing,'' Couples said, "with the wrong guy."

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.