Goosen Tops Annika at Tiger Skins

SINGAPORE (AP) -- South Africa’s Retief Goosen defeated Annika Sorenstam on Sunday to win the Tiger Skins exhibition event, then urged the world’s No. 1 women’s player to compete in another men’s event.

‘We know she’s a great player, we knew what we were in for,’ Goosen said. ‘I hope she’ll change her mind and play in a few more men’s events, she’s a great draw for golf.’

In May, Sorenstam became the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA Tour when she competed in the Colonial.

‘She played wonderful, I got lucky to sneak in and win it,’ Goosen said of his second straight Tiger Skins win.

Goosen captured 10 skins worth $110,000 on the par-5, 563-yard 15th hole after his wedge shot from 40 yards spun back to 3 feet for a birdie. He took home another $15,000 on the par-4, 404-yard 17th.

On Saturday, Goosen won $5,000 on the opening hole for a total of $130,000 of the $180,000 at stake.

Sorenstam took one skin Sunday on the 359-yard 16th for a two-day total of $35,000 and five skins.

The other two players in the event were five-time PGA Tour winner Jesper Parnevik of Sweden and local player Lam Chih Bing, who won the par-4 18th with a 36-foot downhill putt to take the final $15,000 skin.

Sorenstam said she needs some time away from the game before beginning her 2004 LPGA Tour season. She reiterated she would not change her mind and play another men’s stroke-play event.

‘I’m not going to,’ she said. ‘I was here to learn to see how they approach the game and I’m very thankful, this will help me long term.’

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