THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Target World Challenge marks the end of the silly season, a time for 16 world-class players to pay tribute to tournament host Tiger Woods and play for an obscene amount of money.

For the most part, winning is meaningless.

But don't tell that to Luke Donald or Davis Love III.

Donald had gone three years without a PGA Tour victory, and even that wasn't much of a trophy. It came at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic, held opposite the Tour Championship, and he didn't have to hit a shot in the final round because it was rained out.

But last year at the Target World Challenge, he closed with a 64 for a two-shot victory. And he doesn't think it was a coincidence that he went on to have his best season in 2006.

Donald won the Honda Classic, shared the 54-hole lead with Woods at the PGA Championship before tying for third, and now is the highest-ranked British player at No. 9.

"I felt 2006 was a very positive year for me, certainly helped by me win last year," Donald said Wednesday. "It got me off to a good start, gave me some confidence going into this year. And any time you win, it's always a good feeling, gives you even more confidence."

Love can relate.

He had gone 2Z\x years without winning on the PGA Tour when he showed up at Sherwood Country Club, closed with a 64 and blew past Woods and Sergio Garcia to win by two shots. Two months later, he was holding the crystal trophy from winning at Pebble Beach.

"It certainly gets you going when it's right around the corner to the start of the year," Love said. "Any time you win against a good field like this and on a hard golf course, you certainly feel like you're playing well, and it gives you a boost."

There's a long list of players who got a shot in the arm at Sherwood.

Tom Lehman had gone three years without a PGA Tour victory, captured the first edition of this silly-season event, and won a month later in Phoenix. Padraig Harrington won twice in Europe after his victory at Target.

It even applies to Woods.

His worst year on the PGA Tour was in 2004, when his only victory was the Accenture Match Play Championship. He finished his year by winning the Target World Challenge — it was the last tournament his father saw him win in person — then broke out of his major drought the next year by winning the Masters and British Open.

There's plenty of guys this year who could use that karma.

All but two players in the 16-man field are ranked in the top 25; John Daly and Fred Couples received special invitations. Daly is coming off his worst season ever, finishing No. 193 on the money list and having to rely on sponsor's exemptions next year. Couples was 110th on the money list, his lowest in five year, and that was with a third-place finish at the Masters.