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Palmer birdie nets $100,000
Arnold Palmer rolled in a clutch 10-foot putt to end a day of struggles with one euphoric success. The single putt earned Palmer, 77, and playing partner Loren Roberts $100,000 on the second day of the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game at Wailea Golf Club’s Gold Course in Wailea, Hawaii. The putt dropped on the second playoff hole, No. 16, the same 208-yard par 3 Palmer’d birdied to tie earlier when he sunk a 25-footer.
The playoff birdie kept the Palmer-Roberts team from ending the event without a skin, something even his competitors said didn’t want to see happen. “Even though we were competing against him, we want to see him succeed and he did,” said Tom Watson, who partnered with Jack Nicklaus to win nine skins and $320,000 to edge the Gary Player-Jay Haas team’s six skins for $290,000. The Raymond Floyd-Dana Quigley team began the back nine tied with Nicklaus-Watson at two skins and $60,000, but were blanked during the day and finished last.
It was the first time since 2000 that every team took home some money. Palmer’s superstar opponents weren’t the only ones hoping to celebrate a Palmer skin. Palmer had been chagrined at having left Roberts in many awkward positions in the alternate shot format.
“I played pretty poorly up ‘til then, but the galleries stayed with me. So, I was happy to finally give them something to cheer about,” Palmer said. “Thanks to my partner for keeping us in it most of the way with some truly great recovery shots.”
The eight invitees have combined to win 553 tournament victories around the world, including 46 majors, and more than $103 million in prize money.
Posted by crodell at January 17, 2007 02:01 PM