Advertisement

Norman wins all the money in Skins Game

INDIO, Calif., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Greg Norman, who does not even plan to play on the PGA Tour next year, showed signs of his old self Sunday by winning the entire $1 million purse at the Skins Game.

Norman defeated superstar Tiger Woods, defending champion Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Sweden's Jesper Parnevik for the biggest prize in the history of the 19-year event.

Advertisement

The former world No. 1 from Australia, Norman took advantage of a new rule that forced players to validate a skin by at least halving the following hole.

While holes were won Saturday, all $300,000 was carried over to Sunday. Norman finally cashed in at No. 17, claiming his second straight hole and $800,000 with a three-foot birdie putt.

Advertisement

Norman won the final $200,000 on the second playoff hole, sinking a four-footer. The new rule did not apply to the playoff.

Thanks to the new rule, Norman surpassed the $635,000 record set by Fred Couples in 1999. He also claimed all 18 skins, beating Fuzzy Zoeller's mark of 14 established in 1986.

Norman, who turns 47 in February, plans on playing a limited schedule around the world in 2002 while he concentrates on his golf course design business.

Under the old rules, Parnevik would have been the winner with $430,000. Norman would have won $295,000, Montgomerie $250,000 and Woods $25,000.

It was the first Skins Game appearance since 1997 for Woods, who has rewritten the record book since joining the PGA Tour in 1996. The 25-year-old has 29 titles, including six major championships.

His presence made a Skins victory even sweeter for Norman.

"It is not like you want Tiger's scalp on the mantle," Norman said. "It is the fact that he is the best player and you like to beat the best player. I know that feeling. I have been there many times."

Norman was the best player for at least one more day. He won the par-4 17th hole -- worth $800,000 with no one validating through the 16th -- with a 12-foot birdie putt after his three competitors missed the green.

Advertisement

"That was the first time all day that I could see the line," he said. "I could see the speed and the break. When you feel that confident about it, I knew as soon as I hit it on the line it was going in."

Because of the event's new rule, Norman needed to validate the skins he claimed at the 17th by at least halving No. 18.

It wasn't easy for Norman, the oldest of the four players who had the worst chance of reaching the 563-yard par-5 in two. But a strong wind prevented the entire foursome from doing so.

"There was a three- to four-club wind out there sometimes," said Parnevik, who lost a chance at $730,000 when Norman birdied No. 17.

"It was strong and it does affect the height Tiger hits the ball as well," Montgomerie said. "It affected him more than us mere mortals."

Woods and Montgomerie each found the water with their second shots and Parnevik buried himself under the lip of a fairway bunker, hurting his chance of stealing Norman's skins.

"When both Colin and Tiger hit it in the water, I was a bit perplexed how to play it," Norman said. "I knew five would tie and the only person that had a good chance at that was Jesper.

Advertisement

"I have never been in that situation before. If you are just playing medal play, you hit to the middle of the green, take your five and walk off."

Left with 235 yards, Norman intentionally put himself in a greenside bunker.

"Really, the bunker shot was exactly where I was aiming," he said. "But then it really compounded when you see a five is definitely the tying score. So now, how do you play your bunker shot?"

Norman blasted to 25 feet and two-putted, rolling in a four-foot par putt worth $800,000 after Montgomerie salvaged a par. It was a first in a long career for "The Shark."

"I never had to make par for $800,000 before in my life," said Norman, who still is 10th all-time on the PGA Tour with more than $13 million in earnings.

Latest Headlines