Shark sinks $100,000 putt on Day 1 of Telus Skins Game

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VERNON, British Columbia (AP) -- Greg Norman isn't playing as much golf as he used to these days, but he showed he can still make a big shot during the first day of the Telus Skins Game.

Norman rolled in an 18-foot eagle putt on the par-5 eighth hole to win $97,800 on Monday, taking the first-day lead.

"When you win a skins it's great. You can play average golf and win and you can play great golf and not win," said Norman, who used a 5 iron to hit it close from 211 yards after a big drive on the downhill, 556-yard hole. "But I had the opportunity and I took advantage of it.

Fred Couples, making his ninth appearance in the Canadian event, lived up to his reputation as "King of the Skins" with a 60-foot putt worth two skins on the second hole.

"It's always good to take something home," said Couples after adding $29,340 to more than $5 million in career Skins Game winnings on both side of the border.

Canadian Mike Weir, Columbia's Camilo Villegas and Scotland's Colin Montgomerie were all shut out after nine holes at the Predator Ridge Golf Course, located about 300 miles northeast of Vancouver.

Weir is the clear favorite, playing his first Skins Game in his home country in seven years, but for Weir and Villegas, the relaxed, playful atmosphere was a nice change of pace after both players finished in the top-20 at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines on Sunday.

"It's just more relaxed, it's a fun atmosphere, especially after coming off last week, it's the total opposite end of the spectrum," said Weir, who was tied for 20th, 10 spots behind Villegas. "Being home in Canada and in the Skins -- I haven't played in a number of years and I still remember my first time, playing with Fred (in 1998) and it was a great memory -- it's always fun to come back."

Joining the huge gallery following the players was former tennis great Chris Evert, who is scheduled to marry Norman at the end of the month.

The two-time British Open champion and former world No. 1 has only played five events this season, and just three times since knee surgery in late February. But the 53-year-old Australian finished tied for sixth at the Senior PGA Championship last month, and recently committed to the British Open, British Senior Open and U.S. Senior Open.

So far, the two-day World Skins Game has been a good warm-up.

"I'm starting to get ready for July," Norman said. "When you come out here, yes it's a happy-go-lucky, fun event, but when we have to make a putt or hit a shot, we're all trying to make that putt and hit that shot, I don't care whether there's $10,000 or $100,000 on the line. It's pride."

It was hard to see early, as the number of spectators hit by errant shots outnumbered Couple's lone birdie over the first six holes. But they combined for five birdies and Norman's eagle in the final three holes, including Couples making a long birdie on the final hole after Montgomerie hit it close, forcing a carry over of the last $19,500 skin to Tuesday.

"I would like a little bit of sympathy on this side, let me have one," said Montgomerie, who almost holed out from the fairway for five skins on the par-4 seventh, only to have his birdie matched by Villegas, playing his first Skins Game format. Montgomerie was also shutout last year.

"I've now played 27 holes here in Canada and come up empty, so let's hope the next nine will be better," he said.

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