Funk Is Wary of This Female Driver

It started as good-natured ribbing when Tiger Woods learned that Fred Funk had been invited to play in the Skins Game. It has evolved into an intriguing subplot for the annual Thanksgiving weekend cash grab.

Can Funk outdrive Annika Sorenstam?

Woods, Sorenstam and Funk will find out when they join defending champion Fred Couples today for the first half of the two-day Skins Game at Trilogy Golf Club in La Quinta.

Funk, making his first Skins Game appearance, was 197th out of 202 on the PGA Tour with an average driving distance of 270 yards. Sorenstam averaged 263 yards on the LPGA Tour.

“It’s going to be tough,” Funk said. “If I hit my little whiff out to the right ... and she hits her normal shot, I’m done. I’m out.”

Fortunately for Funk and Sorenstam, skins are not awarded on driving distance. Otherwise, Woods, second on the PGA Tour with a 316.1 average, and Couples, who averaged 296.4, would have a distinct advantage.

The first six holes are worth $25,000 each, Nos. 7-12 are worth $50,000, Nos. 13-17 $70,000 and No. 18 $200,000, for a total of $1 million.

Woods is riding the momentum of a seven-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson in the Grand Slam of Golf in Hawaii. Battling a stomach virus that caused him to lose six pounds, and a sore ankle, Woods shot 67-65.

Woods aggravated the ankle during Friday’s pro-am, but he is expected to play.

Still, it won’t be easy to defeat Couples, the two-time defending champion with five titles overall. He is the Skins Game all-time leading money winner with $3,515,000.

“The Fred Couples annuity challenge,” Woods called it.

Couples explained his strategy: “It’s all luck, to be honest with you.”

Sorenstam said she could use some of it, especially on the longer holes.

“For me to win a par-five is very unlikely,” she said. “These guys are long hitters ... “

Woods interrupted with a correction.

“Two of us,” he said, “are long hitters.”

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The Skins Game

* When: Today, 9 a.m., Sunday, 9 a.m.

* Where: Trilogy Golf Club, La Quinta.

* Who: Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, Fred Couples, Fred Funk.

* Format: 18-holes, skins. A player must win a hole outright to win the skin. A tie means the skin carries over to the next hole. Nine holes today, nine Sunday.

* Purse: $1 million. Holes 1-6 are worth $25,000 each, Nos. 7-12 $50,000, Nos. 13-17 $70,000, and No. 18 $200,000.

* Tickets: $50 Saturday, $30 Sunday or $75 for a two-day pass. Available at the gate, by calling (877) SKIN TIX or at www.trilogylife.com.

* Television: Channel 7, Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m.