Tacoma News Tribune Logo

Tour pros hit town for skins | Tacoma News Tribune

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • About Us
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services
    • Archives

    • News
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Government & Politics
    • Local News
    • Nation & World
    • Military
    • Traffic
    • Watchdog
    • Weather
    • Blogs & Columns
    • Matt Driscoll
    • Sports
    • College
    • High School
    • Mariners
    • Preps Stats
    • Seahawks
    • Sounders
    • Tacoma Rainiers
    • UW Huskies
    • Blogs & Columns
    • Dave Boling
    • Huskies Insider Blog
    • John McGrath
    • Mariners Insider Blog
    • Seahawks Insider Blog
    • Sounders Insider Blog
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Consumers
    • People in Business
    • New Businesses
    • Port of Tacoma
    • Real Estate
    • Opinion
    • Cartoons
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Op-Ed
    • Opinion Columns
    • Submit a Letter
    • Living
    • Fitness
    • Food & Drink
    • Home & Garden
    • Religion
    • Entertainment
    • Arts & Culture
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Events Calendar
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • TNT Diner
    • Outdoors
    • Fishing
  • Obituaries

    • The Olympian
    • The Peninsula Gateway
    • The Puyallup Herald
    • Northwest Guardian
    • NIE
    • KIRO7

  • Classifieds
  • Place An Ad
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Mobile & Apps

Golf

Tour pros hit town for skins

TODD MILLES; The News Tribune

    ORDER REPRINT →

October 09, 2007 12:00 AM

Puyallup’s Ryan Moore never had a doubt PGA Tour golf would return to the Northwest, if he had anything to say about it.

In what form, he had no idea.

So, he thought about it when he was approached last spring about starting an event in the South Sound.

An actual tour event? Not his call.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The News Tribune

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

A two-day exhibition tournament? Too many players for a ground-floor event.

Pro-am? Too stuffy, and not good for spectators.

One style did stick with Moore – a skins game.

And that is what takes place – the BMW Northwest Skins Game – today at Chambers Bay Golf Links in University Place.

Joining him are some of the rising 20-somethings on the PGA Tour – fellow Pierce County product Michael Putnam, Australian Aaron Baddeley and Florida’s Bubba Watson – to kick off the inaugural event.

For starters, Moore doesn’t know what to expect when the celebrity foursome tees off at 9 a.m.

“I’ve never played in one,” Moore said. “I thought it looked fun on TV. Honestly, I wanted to have an event with a little bit more personality for people to watch, and I felt (the skins game) held a little more intimate setting.”

He’s not alone – Putnam and Baddeley have never participated in an organized skins game. Watson used to organize one with Joe Durant, Boo Weekley, Heath Slocum and Ben Bates in Florida.

“They’re fun,” Watson said. (Today), I’m hopeful these guys don’t hit irons off the tee. We all need to hit drivers, have fun with the game ... and make the crowd laugh.”

Moore is bringing this first edition along with a little twist: Players will be interviewed after shots, or as they walk along Chambers Bay’s fairways.

If the gallery isn’t able to get close to the action to hear their comments – the golfers will be roped off from the side and behind as they walk – patrons will be able to get a live feed over wireless loud speakers.

“It’s the basic fabric of the event,” said Jeremy Moore, Ryan’s brother and integral member of organizing the Northwest Skins Game. “We wanted it to be interactive with the crowd.”

Then there is the strategy itself, one that should lend to going-for-the-pin shot-making.

“I’ve played skins games in practice rounds, but never for more than $10,” Putnam said. “This should allow the players, as well as the crowd, to see really good shots. You have to make birdies, or eagles, to win skins, so we’ll be firing away, hitting shots we wouldn’t in stroke play.”

A skins game has more of a match play feel to it. Whoever wins a hole earns a skin, which usually carries a designated amount.If two or more golfers tie on a hole, the money amount is added to the next hole’s amount.

Traditionally, holes later in the round hold more in value than earlier holes. How much each hole is worth will be determined today before the round starts. Golfers are playing for a purse of $100,000 going to charity.

Watson knows the hometown guys will be cheered for. They should be – it’s their event.

“We beat them (Monday),” said Watson, referring to a morning competition at Tacoma Country and Golf Club. “That was for fun. I think it’s all individual today. I want to get one, and quick, so I don’t get shut out. Nobody wants to get shut out.”

Pros hunt skins in northwest

PGA Tour golfers Ryan Moore, Michael Putnam, Bubba Watson and Aaron Baddeley convene in the South Sound for the inaugural BMW Northwest Skins Game, with $100,000 available for the players’ chosen charities.

Where: 9 a.m. today Chambers Bay Golf Links in University Place.

Tickets: $20 for adults at the golf course.

Todd Milles: 253-597-8442

todd.milles@thenewstribune.com

  Comments  

Videos

Helicopter brought in to dry PGA Tour Champions golf course

Phil Mickelson pulls off amazing trick shot over man's head

View More Video

Trending Stories

New Tacoma restaurant will have huge schnitzel, fries and gravy, crowd friendly food

February 20, 2019 11:00 AM

Man killed in head-on crash with semitruck in Fife is identified

February 20, 2019 10:14 AM

Whistleblower who complained about medical examiner placed on administrative leave

February 21, 2019 03:57 PM

Man accused of shooting ex-wife outside Lakewood motel told her, ‘You made me do this’

February 20, 2019 09:47 AM

Undercover child sex sting leads to arrest of 22 men, many from the South Sound

February 21, 2019 04:28 PM
Local display advertising by PaperG

Read Next

Sports

A long trip, a long day in Mexico for New Zealand’s Ryan Fox

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 05:46 PM

From New Zealand to Mexico and back again for travel-weary Ryan Fox.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The News Tribune

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE GOLF

McIlroy opens with 63 has Woods struggles in Mexico debut

Sports

McIlroy opens with 63 has Woods struggles in Mexico debut

February 21, 2019 05:09 PM
Woods to skip Honda in busy Florida schedule

Sports

Woods to skip Honda in busy Florida schedule

February 21, 2019 04:17 PM

Sports

Andres Romero shoots 66 to lead Puerto Rico Open

February 21, 2019 03:59 PM
Spieth’s father fills in as caddie in Mexico

Sports

Spieth’s father fills in as caddie in Mexico

February 21, 2019 03:52 PM

Sports

Eun-Hee Ji leads LPGA Thailand by 2 after opening 63

February 21, 2019 02:49 AM

Golf

Tiger Woods announces he’ll skip Honda Classic next week

February 21, 2019 12:00 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Tacoma News Tribune App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Rewards
  • Pay Your Bill
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
  • Special Sections
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story