BRIEFS

Nicklaus, Watson

wins Skins Game

Jack Nicklaus wasn't in a giving mood.

Nicklaus and Tom Watson earned seven skins and $260,000 on the back nine Sunday to win the Champions Skins Game over Gary Player and Jay Haas.

Team Nicklaus-Watson finished with nine skins worth $320,000, boosting the Golden Bear to a career record 96 skins worth $2,295,000. Last year's runners-up sealed the win when Player-Haas bogeyed the first playoff hole and were eliminated.

''I think we were both determined not to lose,'' said Nicklaus, an 18- time major winner.

Player and Haas, the Champions Tour player of the year, finished with six skins worth $290,000 in the fourteam, alternate-shot event.

It was the first time since the 2000 tournament that everyone took home money.

''Everybody traveled a long way. It's nice everybody shared the round a little bit, we but didn't come here to share the round,'' Nicklaus said.

Arnold Palmer drained a 10-foot birdie on the second playoff hole on No. 16 to earn a skin worth $100,000 to avoid being shutout .