New Format, Renewed Excitement

Scott Behmer, Southern Arizona Bureau Chief

January 28, 1999
TUCSON, Az - If the competition on Sunday is as good as it was during the Skins Game on Tuesday, then the fans will be in for a real treat. Steve Jones and Randy Johnson combined to capture three skins, winning the event.

Half of their $7500 went to Jones, the other half to their designated charity, the Phoenix Ronald McDonald House. The winning shot came from Jones on the par 5 #15. With 225 yards to the pin, master of ceremonies Gary McCord convinced Jones to hit a three-iron instead of a two. Playing his patented power-draw over the water, the ball landed on the front of the green and rolled to within inches of the cup. From the fairway it appeared that Jones had accomplished rarest feat in golf: the albatross.

The amateurs were not to be out done, though. Local heroes Randy Johnson, Jake Plummer, and Danny Ainge impressed the crowds with towering drives. In fact, Ainge impressed not only the spectators, but his playing companions as well with his drive on the 332-yard #17, which rolled onto the putting surface, leaving a fifty-footer for eagle. The drive was even more amazing, though, becasuse earlier in the day Tiger Woods attempted to reach the green with his drive and finished twenty yards short. I guess we know what sport Coach Ainge was working on during the lockout.

On the other hand, there were a few less than stellar shots from the celebrities. We're not certain, but it appeared that Darious Rucker, lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish, has been taking pointers from that notorious spectator-hitter, President Gerald Ford. After struggling to get off the tee on #11, Darious had an even more inauspicious tee ball on #15, violently yanking his drive left into a hill of spectators and hitting an unsuspecting young woman. Darious quickly ran over and hugged her, remaining by her side long enough to turn a painful accident into a happy memory. In the end, the one Darious really needed to apologize to was his playing partner, Payne Stewart, who had to overcome the forty-yard drive, which ended up in the desert.

The biggest surprise of the day came from the dream pairing: the best player in the world, David Duval, and one-handicapper Vince Gill. Duval struggled with his putting, though, while Vince's entire game was off. It became evident that it wasn't Duval's day when, given an opportunity to make back his money from a morning round bet with Phil Mickelson, he lost to him again in a driving contest off the 18th tee by a mere two yards.

On what blossomed into a beautiful day, the fans turned out in droves and were quick to show their support for local stars. No player received more cheers and autograph requests than Arizona Cardinals quarterback and ASU graduate Jake "The Snake" Plummer. Screams of adoring female fans erupted after each shot. They were all the more encouraged by McCord's constant reminders of Plummer's $15 million signing bonus.

Plummer wasn't the only player McCord incessantly ribbed. David Duval of recent '59' fame was constantly interrupted with reminders of his incredible feats in the last year, such as winning 9 of his last 28 tournaments. Showing a sign of maturity lacking in years past, Duval not only didn't demand a silent and still crowd, on #16 he actually encouraged the gallery to cheer before his shot. Of course, if you're 54-under in two tournaments this year with two wins, you have good reason to be relaxed.

The change from a ten-pro shootout to a Skins Game matching six pros with crowd-pleasing celebrities was a complete success. The new format allowed spectators to watch their favorite golfers for more than just a hole two, while providing a chance to see both local and world-wide celebrities such as Celtic-great, Bill Russell. Russell often explaining to fans that he does not sign autographs, was very gracious and quick to shake hands, showing the true nature of a gentleman. In the best Tuesday event that I have ever seen, the Skins Game has set the tone for a great week of golf.