The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Singh to defend Skins title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Sport

Sport - Golf

Singh to defend Skins title

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 28. World No. 1 Vijay Singh will return to India next month to defend the Bilt Skins golf title at the DLF Golf and Country Club, Gurgaon, on November 14.

Challenging Vijay in the $100,000 event will be the reigning British Open champion Todd Hamilton, Swedish National Daniel Chopra and Briton Justin Rose.

This is also the first time that a top-ranked golfer has agreed to play in India. Vijay Singh, who displaced Tiger Woods from the top of the world rankings after 264 weeks earlier this month, is also the highest prize-money earner, in golf, ever in a calendar year. His earning in 2004 currently stands at $9,455,566 and is well on course of crossing the 10 million mark.

It may be recalled that in 2002, Vijay Singh won the Skins event ahead of Jyoti Randhawa, Harmeet Kahlon and Kapil Dev.

Addressing mediapersons here on Tuesday, Bilt's Gautam Thapar said the idea to hold this event was to give the game the fillip it needs in the country. He said the one-day event, co-sponsored by DLF and Asahi India, would cost Rs. three crore.

The event, preceded by a pro-am round on November 13, will be not be a walk-in affair for the golf lovers. Entires will be restricted to invitees only.

Under the Skins format, the players try and win as many holes as possible since each one carries prize-money ranging from $2,500, for the four holes, to $16,000 for the 18th. In case two or more players tie on any of the 17 holes, the prize-money gets carried forward. Should there be a tie on the 18th hole, those tied go back to the tee for a sudden-death play-off until a clear champion emerges. — Our Special Correspondent

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