Wailea, HI (My Sportsbook) - Tom Watson drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the 11th hole Sunday to walk off with seven skins, $260,000 and the win with Jack Nicklaus at the Wendy's Champions Skins Game.
Including Saturday's opening nine, Nicklaus and Watson collected nine skins and $320,000 for the title.
Gary Player and reigning Champions Tour Player of the Year Jay Haas captured six skins during Sunday's second nine, but it was not enough. That pair tallied $290,000 for second place.
Arnold Palmer and Loren Roberts won the second playoff hole to capture the final skin which was worth $100,000. Defending champions Ray Floyd and Dana Quigley won two skins on Saturday, but were shut out on Sunday. Those two skins were worth $60,000.
The Nicklaus/Watson and Floyd/Quigley teams each won two skins and $60,000 in Saturday's first nine holes. After the four teams halved the last five holes Saturday at the Gold Course at Wailea Golf Resort, the 11th hole Sunday became worth seven skins and $260,000.
Nicklaus gave Watson a good look at birdie at the 10th, but missed. Player had a better chance, but also came up empty, so it was off to the par-three 11th.
Nicklaus hit his team's tee ball 20 feet short of the flag. Player hit his iron just a few inches closer, while the other two teams were basically out of the hole.
Watson and Nicklaus knew early on that Watson's putt would find the bottom of the cup. It was up to Haas to roll his in to halve the hole and prevent the Nicklaus/Watson tandem from taking a huge lead.
Haas' putt stayed right and Nicklaus and Watson moved well ahead.
"My partner gave me two shots at it," said Watson, referring to the chance he had at No. 10. "It's all in the speed, it was either 12 inches or 18 inches depending on the speed. Very grateful it went in, obviously."
No skins were won on the 12th or 13th holes, but Player and Haas won the 14th with a birdie when Haas sank a 10-footer. That birdie was worth three skins and $140,000. Once again, no team walked off with any cash at 15 or 16, but Player and Haas won 17 to add another three skins and $150,000.
The 18th was worth $100,000, leaving the outcome very much in the air. Two teams made birdie to extend the Skins Game, so all four teams returned to the 18th for a playoff.
Player and Haas were eliminated when they failed to make birdie on the first playoff hole.
That meant Nicklaus and Watson won the title, but Palmer and Roberts took the second extra hole at the 16th to get all teams some money.