Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. ? Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia saved their best golf for the bright lights.

Mickelson and Garcia, both winless this year in tournaments that count, stole the spotlight from the world’s best two players Monday night by beating Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, 3 and 1, in the “Battle at the Bridges.”

It was the fifth version of Monday Night Golf, the made-for-TV exhibition designed to bring golf to prime time. This one featured the best golf and the least amount of fun.

All four of them were grinding, halving seven straight holes on the back nine as Mickelson and Garcia, who never trailed, clung to a 1-up lead.

When the sun dropped behind the foothills and the lights came on, Garcia and Mickelson shined. Both hit their second shots over the water to the 571-yard 16th hole.

Els hit his approach into the water, while Woods caught a bunker left of the green. Garcia, who had missed several birdie putts that could have given his team a big lead, finally came through with a 30-footer that was true as soon as it left his putter.

That put them 2-up. They closed out Woods and Els on the 17th hole when the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the world failed to come close to a birdie.

It was only the second time Woods has lost since the Monday night exhibitions began in 1999, both times to Garcia.

Garcia and Mickelson were a combined 8 under through 17 holes. They each earned $600,000 from the $1.7 million purse, while Woods and Els got $250,000 each.