LA QUINTA, Calif. - Annika Sorenstam played against the men again - and beat them with one of the most spectacular shots in the history of the Skins Game.
Sorenstam, the first woman to compete in the 21 years since the event began, holed a 39-yard bunker shot for eagle on the par-5, 524-yard ninth hole Saturday to earn $175,000.
"I'm pretty much in shock, I must say," she said.
Another $700,000 will be at stake in the final nine holes today.
On Saturday, she won more than her three male competitors did combined. Phil Mickelson earned $100,000 with two $50,000 skins. Fred Couples sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole for $25,000. Defending champion Mark O'Meara had no skins.
She played well in the $1-million Skins Game but had no skins through the first eight holes Saturday, then came the shot she called the best of her career.
"I've hit some great shots at major championships to win them," she said, "but with all the people watching, against these guys a tough shot like that, I think it's the best shot."
There were no skins on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes, building the amount to $175,000 on the ninth.
"This format lends itself to having one incredible shot overshadow the day," Mickelson said. "And to have it happen on the last hole, in front of everybody with the most money on the line, I thought was pretty cool. It would have been even more cool if it were me."
None of the players made the green in two, and Sorenstam was in the worst shape, in the sand trap on the far side of the green at the Trilogy Golf Club, which opened in February. "For me, it's the hardest shot in golf," she said.
Her ball rested on an uphill slope and she hit it cleanly, hardly disturbing the sand. The ball skipped a few times on the green, then rolled directly into the hole.
"Under the circumstances, to just get it within 10 feet I would have been really happy," Sorenstam said. "This just seems like it's my year. It's just amazing."
NEDBANK CHALLENGE: Sergio Garcia shot 2-under-par 70 to take a one-stroke lead over Retief Goosen after three rounds at Sun City, South Africa. Goosen shot 68. Second-round leader Kenny Perry was two back after 73.
