Associated Press
Raymond Floyd is a happy - and rich - man as he holds the
winner's trophy and flashes four fingers, for his fourth
consecutive win, at the Senior Skins game yesterday.
Then a huge roar from the gallery let everyone know that the "Golden Bear" was back in contention as he calmly rolled in a four-footer for a birdie at the 15th green that was worth $150,000 in yesterday's second round of the Senior Skins Game.
But for the fourth year in a row at the Mauna Lani Resort South Course, it was Raymond Floyd who carted away the most cash, winning six skins and $210,000 in the two-day, 18-hole competition that was worth a total of $540,000.
Nicklaus finished with $170,000, Senior Skins rookie Hale Irwin picked up $160,000 and Lee Trevino - a late replacement for Arnold Palmer, who is recovering from prostate cancer surgery - was shut out.
In the last five years of Senior Skins, Floyd has won $1.17 million. That's for five rounds of golf, folks.
"I finally at least challenged him - it's the best I've played here in a few years," Nicklaus said after yesterday morning's nine holes, which were played in overcast, but calm conditions. "Raymond makes a lot of birdies and is just a little bit better around the greens than we are, which is why he likes the golf course so much.
"Overall, I don't think you saw as many birdies as you usually do, but the greens were very difficult - all of us seemed to have the same problems."
Floyd didn't waste any time yesterday as he won the first hole - the par-5 10th.
It was worth a whopping $140,000, as $110,000 had been carried over from Saturday, when Nicklaus missed two putts inside of 10 feet that would have won each of the final two holes.
Floyd was almost embarrassed afterward. Almost.
"It's exciting and an incredible thing - that's a lifetime of earnings," he said of the gaudy five-year total. "But I played well again and gave myself an opportunity on every hole - and I feel like I know these greens."
Irwin was coming off the Senior Tour's MasterCard tournament of champions victory down the road at Hualalai Golf Club.
He picked up $80,000 on the third playoff hole to pad his total.
"I was a little frustrated after having so much success last week," Irwin added. "But the play from all of us wasn't as good as I expected. It was scripted for us, but we just didn't follow the script."
In Skins competition, each hole is a tournament within itself. If no one wins the hole outright, the prize money is carried over.
The first six holes were worth $20,000 each, the middle six $30,000 apiece and the final six $40,000 each.
Finally, Floyd was asked about Palmer, who missed his first Skins event since 1983.
"I spoke with him on Saturday," Floyd said, his eyes misting a bit. "He assured me that everything is terrific and he was already thinking about coming back - and he appreciates everyone's support and well-wishes.
"Anything Arnold Palmer is part of, the event magnifies. Anytime he can play, it's just great for our game."