Tour News (posted 27th August 1998)

Norman to join Lehman, O'Meara and Couples in Skins Game

Associated Press

La Quinta, California. - Greg Norman, sidelined by an injured shoulder since April, will participate in the Skins Game in November.

Norman, defending champion Tom Lehman, Masters and British Open champion Mark O'Meara and Fred Couples were chosen today to participate in this year's event Nov. 28-29.

Norman is expected to test his surgically repaired shoulder earlier in November at his own Shark Shootout. Norman, making his third Skins Game appearance, has played in only three PGA Tour events this year, none since The Masters.

Lehman won 10 skins last year to win a rookie record $300,000. He has not won a regular PGA Tour event in the United States since the 1996 Tour Championship.

O'Meara, the runner-up to Lehman last year, became the first golfer to win The Masters and British Open in the same year since Nick Faldo in 1990.

Couples, the 1995 and 1996 Skins Game winner, was unable to defend his title last year because of his father's death. Couples is the career leader in money earned at the Skins Game with $1.19 million in five appearances. Couples has won two tournaments this year and has five top-10 finishes in 13 starts.

The $1 million purse is a 67 percent increase over last year's prize money. The first six holes are worth $25,000 each, the next six are $50,000, the next five will be $70,000 and the 18th hole is worth $200,000.