LA QUINTA, California, 2 December 2003 — Annika Sorenstam may be the queen of golf, but Fred Couples is Mr. Skins.
While Sorenstam continued to impress her PGA Tour opponents, Couples kept humbling them, winning his record fourth Skins Game after taking $200,000 with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole.
Sorenstam won the first skin of the day and $50,000 with a 12-foot birdie putt at the 10th. It was the only prize she earned Sunday, after collecting four skins worth $175,000 over the first nine holes Saturday.
The 33-year-old Swedish superstar was invited to the Skins Game because of her dominance on the LPGA Tour, which earned her a sponsor’s exemption at a PGA Tour event this spring.
“I enjoyed it so much,” she said of her weekend. “I mean, what an opportunity to play with all three of them. They’ve been so great to me. They made me feel so comfortable. I’m very glad I came.”
Sorenstam was second to Couples, who took eight skins for a total of $605,000. Phil Mickelson was third with five skins and $170,000, while defending champion Mark O’Meara was shut out.
Couples became the first four-time winner, breaking a tie with the late Payne Stewart. A former Masters champion, Couples also claimed the event in 1995, 1996 and 1999.
“I feel like I can pull off any shot at any time,” said Couples, who called the made-for-TV event ‘pot luck.’
“If I don’t, it doesn’t take me three holes to figure my swing out.”
Holes 11-13 were halved, making the 14th worth four skins and $240,000. Couples took it all with an 18-foot birdie putt. Sorenstam had a chance to match but missed from 10 feet.
Mickelson won his only skin of the day and $70,000 with a birdie at the 15th.
After the 16th hole was halved, Couples took two more skins and $405,000 at the par-three 17th, draining a 55-foot birdie putt. He birdied the hole three times Sunday.
The final skin at No. 18, worth $200,000, carried over after Mickelson and O’Meara birdied it. Mickelson had a chance to win it on the first playoff hole but missed a 2 1 2-foot putt.
