INDIAN WELLS (Calif): South Korean KJ Choi sank a birdie putt worth two skins and US$270,000 (RM980,195) at the final hole on Sunday to win the 2008 Skins Game.

Choi, a newcomer to the four-man unofficial event, finished the two days with a winning total of US$415,000 out of the total US$1 million purse.

Canadian Stephen Ames, the two-time defending champion, had a chance to halve the hole and force a playoff, but missed his putt.

"I'm very happy today," said Choi, who won US$340,000 on Sunday to go with his leading US$75,000 from Saturday's first nine holes.

In the event players compete for money at each hole rather than the low score for the round.
A player must win a hole outright to win a skin. If a hole is tied, the skin and money carry over to the next hole.

Because of skins carried over, Sunday's opening 10th hole was worth US$250,000, and Ames nabbed it with a birdie. Winning that hole alone put Ames second in the event. Phil Mickelson finished third with US$195,000 and US Open runner-up Rocco Mediate earned US$140,000.

Mickelson, who bagged US$25,000 on Saturday, won US$170,000 at the 13th with a birdie.

Choi added US$70,000 to his total with an eagle at 14 before his big win with an 11-footer at the last.