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Singh, Ames heat up as Skins Game approaches

With the Telus Skins Game just a few days away, the four players in the 2005 round are capturing headlines across the golf world.

With the Telus Skins Game just a few days away, the four players in the 2005 round are capturing headlines across the golf world.

Calgary’s Stephen Ames, who had a breakout year in 2004, was named Canada’s Male Touring Pro of the Year at the 2005 Score Awards.

"The past year has been a very exciting and fulfilling year for me," said Ames. "The Canadian fans and media have really treated me as ‘one of their own’ and that has been especially rewarding. The next week will be a highlight of my career so far with the opportunity to defend my first PGA Tour victory followed by a chance to join Jack Nickluas, Vijay Singh and John Daly at the Telus Skins Game. I consider it a great honour."

Ames is currently ranked 86 th on the money list, but was as high as 21 st last season.

John Daly told the Canadian Press that he was excited to come to Whistler.

"It’s just a lot of fun to go out there and play some golf and cut up a little bit and have a good time," he said.

"The fans get to see our personality when we’re not as serious as we would be in a major tournament or something. To be able to cut up a little bit and have some fun, I think the fans like to see that."

Daly, while sometimes controversial, is always a star attraction at the Skins Game. Last year he picked a fan out of the crowd, then bet him who would hit closest to the pin. The year before that he teed off with a pop can. In 1998 he played the entire par four course with his putter.

Daly is currently ranked 50 th on the money list after playing in 15 events.

Fiji’s Vijay Singh could be the best golfer on the pro tour today. He entered the season in first place after winning nine tour stops in 2004, and only temporarily dropped into a tie for fifth at one point before winning 12 rounds in a row at PGA tour events to reclaim first place.

This will be Singh’s fifth appearance at a Telus Skins Game, after winning events in 2003 and 2001. Although he’s known for being dead serious at pro events, he does seem to enjoy himself at the Skins Games.

For Jack Nicklaus, this will be his last North American appearance. At 65 the Golden Bear is finally retiring from pro golf following the British Open the week after the Skins Game. He designed the Nicklaus North course, and still plays a great game of golf.

At Wailea, Hawaii earlier this year, Nicklaus won 11 straight skins and a career-high $340,000 paycheque.

"I’m totally shocked. I have no way to explain it," said Nicklaus, who was still recovering from back surgery in November of 2004.

He hoped to play in the Masters, only to see this year’s tournament cancelled due to rain.

With the end of his career nearing, all eyes will be on Nicklaus, who will retire as one of the top rated golfers of all time after 43 years on top of the sport.

There is $360,000 up for grabs at this year’s Skins Game, or $20,000 per hole. The first nine holes will be played on Monday, July 4, and the back nine the following day.

The real winners could be the kids, with Telus pledging money to the KidSport’s Little Links program which provides funding and equipment to kids who would not otherwise be able to afford to play golf.

Telus has committed to donating $2,000 for each birdie, $3,000 for each eagle, and $1 per yard for every drive off the tees of two designated holes. If any player makes a hole in one, Telus will donate $1 million to KidSport.

"I’ve never needed extra incentive to try and launch one off the tee, but with the donations being made to KidSport I will be trying to squeeze every yard I can out of my driver," said Daly.

Last week an auction of four Telus Skins experiences wrapped up on eBay, including packages to Whistler that include tickets to the game, helicopter trips up Mount Currie to hit balls at 7,000 feet, a chance to play the course as the pros played it, a chance to play in the Sunday Pro-Am event, and an opportunity to be a standard bearer and walk inside the ropes. Souvenirs donated by the players will also auctioned at eBay following the Skins Game.

Other fundraisers include an on-site swing analysis for $5, a chance to have your picture taken with cardboard cutouts of the players, $2 a ball putting contests, and more.

Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster. Call 1-888-833-4447, drop by the Millennium Place box office, or visit www.ticketmaster.ca . One day tickets are $75 and tickets for both days are available for $129.

Because there are just four players in the game only a limited number of tickets will be sold.