Tiger and company go empty-handed

Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie and Jesper Parnevik failed to win any money on Saturday after rule changes led to the entire $1 million purse at the Skins Game rolling over to Sunday's back nine.

The rule changes, brought in to add excitement to the format, force a player who wins a skin at the Landmark Golf Club to win or halve the next hole to pocket the cash he earned on the previous hole.

While skins were won on five holes, the $300,000 total up for grabs on the front nine was held over to Sunday in the annual made-for-TV event.

"It is the first time ever that I think we have all come away with nothing," said defending champion Montgomerie.

"I think it is a great format," said world number one Woods, who is competing in the Skins Game for the first time since 1997.

"You have to play and you have to play well. There is no fluke involved here."

The final nine holes and a playoff, if necessary, will be played on Sunday.

Woods had the first chance to win money after making a short birdie putt at the first hole. But Norman birdied the second as Woods parred, pushing $50,000 to the third hole.

Norman had a chance to win the third but Scotsman Montgomerie drilled home an 18-foot birdie putt to the delight of Woods and Swede Parnevik.

All the players were having fun. Walking down the second fairway Norman, Parnevik and Montgomerie joked with Woods after he had left himself a long, winding birdie putt.

LIGHT-HEARTED BANTER
"Bad luck, Tiger," joked Parnevik.

"None of us mean it," said Montgomerie.

The banter continued after Parnevik, who lives near Norman in Jupiter, Florida, missed a birdie opportunity to keep the Australian in the hole.

"That's a good neighbour," Norman said. "I'll buy you a beer next week."

Montgomerie ended up making an 18-foot birdie putt to prevent Norman from breaking through.

"You have three enemies straight away," Norman said. "I know how I felt after winning two, and I know how Tiger felt after winning the first hole."

Montgomerie failed to earn the $75,000 available on No. 4 when he missed a short birdie putt to halve. He won the fourth and final skin of the day at the fifth but could not cash in at No. 6.

Facing the 569-yard, par-five sixth, Montgomerie found the left rough with his drive and a fairway bunker with his approach, then blasted over the hole and into a bush en route to a bogey. The other three made par.

When play resumes on Sunday, $350,000 will roll over to the 10th hole and will be up for grabs for Montgomerie, who birdied the ninth.

"Tomorrow is going to go beyond 11," Norman said. "The chances are probably 70 or 80 percent that it will come down to 18 for $1 million."

Montgomerie won last year's event in a playoff, making a two-foot par putt to outlast Fred Couples and claim $340,000. He ended up with six skins and $415,000 in his first Skins Game appearance.