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Friday, January 28, 2000

Associated Press
Arnold Palmer tunes up on the driving range yesterday for the
Senior Skins Game at the Mauna Lani Bay Resort on the Kohala
Coast of the Big Island. Palmer will join golf legends Jack Nicklaus,
Gary Player and Tom Watson in the star-studded field.

The original Skins Games players
are reunited for the Senior
high-stakes match

GOLF WATCH

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson.

They were the original four in the first Skins Games ever held back in 1983. The first two, in fact.

Well, they're back together again in a Grand Reunion this weekend at the Mauna Lani Bay Resort on the Big Island for a "Blast from the Past" Senior Skins Game to launch the year 2000.

The four golfers -- who have combined for 184 PGA Tour victories and 45 major championships -- will compete for the $600,000 purse.

Player won the original Skins Games at Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Ariz., with $170,000 when the total purse was $360,000.

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Jack Nicklaus 20 major championships include the U.S. Open (4), Masters (6), British Open (3), PGA (5) and U.S. Amateur (2). 70 PGA Tour victories. 10 Senior Tour victories. $8,305,323 in earnings, including $945,000 in 9 Senior Skins events.

Arnold Palmer 8 major championships include the U.S. Open (1), Masters (4), British Open (2) and U.S. Amateur (1). 60 PGA Tour victories. 10 Senior Tour victories. $3,554,514 in earnings, including $965,000 in 11 Senior Skins events.

Gary Player 9 major championships include the U.S. Open (1), Masters (3), British Open (3) and the PGA (2). 21 PGA Tour victories. 21 Senior Tour victories. 161 total tournaments won. $7,003,476 in earnings, including $130,000 in 4 Senior Skins events.

Tom Watson 8 major championships include the U.S. Open (1), Masters (2) and the British Open (5). 33 PGA Tour victories. 1 Senior Tour victory. $9,633,512 in earnings. He is making his first Senior Skins appearance.

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"It was a thrill to win the first one. It's a thrill any time you can beat players like Jack, Arnold and Tom because they are such wonderful golfers (and) three of the greatest ambassadors the game has ever had," Player said.

"To be very honest, I don't remember much about the first year," said Nicklaus, well aware of the following year's winner.

"I remember the second one because I won it. I didn't do anything until the 18th hole. Then I birdied the hole and won $240,000. It is still the biggest check I have ever won in a golf tournament."

The Skins Game for the pros on the Senior PGA Tour began in 1988 with Chi Chi Rodriguez winning at the Turtle Bay Golf Course, beating Player, Palmer and Sam Snead. He won again in 1989 when the event moved to Palm Springs, Calif.

Palmer won in 1990 when the event returned to Hawaii at the Mauna Lani Bay Resort, and he won again in 1992 and '93.

Nicklaus, who played in every Senior Skins after turning 50 except last year because of hip replacement surgery, won in 1991.

Associated Press
Jack Nicklaus gives Arnold Palmer a shoulder massage
while on the tee before yesterday's practice round.

Player, who competed in the first four Senior Skins, will be making his first appearance since 1991.

This is the first Senior Skins appearance for Watson, a "rookie" on the Senior Tour this year. He had to withdraw from the MasterCard Championship last week at Hualalai because of the death of his father, but decided to play tomorrow in order to celebrate the reunion of the Original Skins Gang.

The format calls for the four players competing on each hole worth a designated amount. Low score among the four wins a "skin" worth that amount.

The "skin" is carried over if the hole is tied.

The first six holes will be worth $20,000 each; the next six $30,000 each; holes 13 through 17 will be worth $40,000; and the 18th a minimum of $100,000.

This will be the 11th and final year that the Mauna Lani Resort will be hosting the event.

It will be held at the Wailea Gold Course on Maui in 2001 and 2002.