Funk Isn’t Short in Cash Line

Fred Funk had so much success during the first day of the Skins Game after wearing a skirt, you almost expected him to show up for the second day wearing a designer gown with high heels and a matching bow in his hair.

Instead, he made a financial statement rather than a fashion statement.

Funk, who a day earlier had donned a pink flowered skirt for a hole because he lost a friendly wager when Annika Sorenstam out drove him on the third hole at Trilogy Golf Club in La Quinta, won all nine skins and $700,000 Sunday to win in his Skins Game debut.

His two-day total of $925,000 is a tournament record for the current format. Greg Norman won $1 million in 2001, when players were required to validate each skin by also winning the next hole. Funk also set a rookie record for money earned and skins won with 15.

Funk’s skirt-wearing display Saturday was part of a running gag initiated because he is one of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour. Yet he won the tournament when he was the only player to reach the par-five 18th hole in two and two-putted from 25 feet for birdie.

Fred Couples had a six-foot putt to match Funk, but it went past the left side of the hole, leaving Tiger Woods as the only player with a chance to extend the match to a playoff. Woods, who missed the green with four-iron second shot, chipped to within six feet, but his birdie effort curled just right at the hole and missed.

On Saturday, Funk won six skins and $225,000 when he made an eagle on the par-five ninth.

“I’m still in shock that I was invited to be in this thing,” Funk said. “Just to be a part of it was something I didn’t even dream of.

“It came down to 18 and I didn’t think with the wind and those conditions that I could get home, but I hit a really good drive and a really good three-wood to get it up there. I didn’t think birdie would win it, but you just never know in the Skins Game.”

Over the two days, Funk averaged 280 yards off the tee -- pedestrian by today’s standards -- but hit 14 of 14 fairways and all 18 greens in regulation. He made five birdies and an eagle.

“Funky just basically took over,” Woods said. “The last hole and I had a four-iron in my hand and I figured I could make four from there, but I just didn’t do it.”

Woods was the only other player to win any skins. He finished second with $75,000. Couples, the all-time leader in Skins Game victories and money, was shut out for the first time in 12 appearances. Sorenstam, the runner-up in 2003 and the only woman to play the Skins Game, was shut out for the second consecutive year.

“Fred won quite a bit of money on par-fives which he probably says is not his forte, but he was phenomenal and he deserved to win,” Couples said.

Funk didn’t win all of his money on par-fives. After taking the overnight lead with his eagle on No. 9 Saturday, he won the first three skins Sunday when, after the other three players had missed birdie chances, he made a six-foot birdie putt on the par-four 12th worth $150,000. The putt gave him a total of $375,000 with $550,000 still available.

Woods had an opportunity to win four skins and $280,000 when he reached the par-five 16th in two. His 30-foot eagle putt was tracking to the hole but stopped about six inches short.

Funk, not one to miss an opportunity for a barb, had one for Woods.

“I’ve got a really nice pink skirt for you,” he said.