Monty shows up his host

Colin Montgomerie passed a big test Saturday, overcoming a few obnoxious fans and a pairing with Tiger Woods to post a 4-under-par 67 and take a two-shot lead in the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Montgomerie was hardly intimidated playing with the tournament host, needing only four holes to put four shots between them on the leaderboard.

And when Jay Haas made a charge into the lead, the 41-year-old Scot responded with a 4-iron into 8 feet for eagle on the par-5 16th and a 9-iron into 8 feet for another birdie on the 17th to finish at 13-under 200.

“There’s no satisfaction beating any player,” Montgomerie said. “The satisfaction comes from seeing your name on the top of the leaderboard.”

Sweeter yet would be seeing it there this afternoon, having Woods hand him the trophy and cashing the $1.25 million check, the fourth-largest payout.

Woods recovered from a terrible start — 3 over after four holes — with a birdie-par-birdie finish for a 69 that left him two shots behind along with Haas (67) and Jim Furyk, who birdied five of his last six holes for a 67.

Miguel Angel Jimenez had the low round of the day at 66 and was another shot behind.

Montgomerie enjoyed the warmth of Southern California and the reception from the fans, but not all of them. One man cheered loudly when he missed a birdie at the 12th, and the Scot glared.

“That was uncalled for,” Woods said, who had security talk to the fan.

Asked about it later, Monty brushed it off. He was more excited about his play. Montgomerie is in good position to win his first stroke-play title in the United States. He won the Match Play Championship in 1998 — the year before it became an official event — and the Skins Game in 2000

Woods to play new event in China

Woods is returning to China next year, this time with a trophy at stake.

Woods confirmed he would be playing a tournament in China next year, and a source involved with international golf said it would be a new event that would have the richest purse in Asia.

Woods made his first trip to China in November 2001 for a junior clinic, followed by a pro-am at Mission Hills Country Club in Shenzhen in which amateurs paid $18,000.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the tournament would be held in Shanghai on Nov. 10-13, the week after Woods concludes his PGA Tour season at the Tour Championship.