Skins Game | Playing for a cause at Chambers Bay

UNIVERSITY PLACE — In the end, the guy from Australia who had attempted the most unusual shot of the day emerged as the winner of the BMW Northwest Charity Skins Game.

Aaron Baddeley won three holes and seven skins worth $12,250 at Chambers Bay before a gallery of about 1,200 fans, most of them toting umbrellas they never had to open.

All winnings went to charity in the event that featured the PGA Tour foursome of host Ryan Moore, fellow Pierce County native Michael Putnam, megahitter Bubba Watson and Baddeley.

Baddeley used his sand wedge instead of his putter on the 12th green for one shot after driving the uphill, 305-yard hole that has a massive green.

Why use a sand wedge on a green?

"It was so 'slopey,' " he explained. "I was trying to chip it so I could get some spin on the ball so it would roll down the slope slower."

He said it was the fourth time in his life and second this year that he has used a wedge on a green.

The chip left Baddeley with a 4-foot birdie putt that he missed. He settled for par with his three competitors, all of whom drove the green then three-putted from long distances.

This was the first spectator event at Chambers Bay, which played at 7,585 yards, and the course more than held its own. The winning score on two of the eight holes that were won outright was par.

Watson, who cranked some 315-yard drives, won two holes and five skins for $9,250.

Moore, from Puyallup, rallied to win three skins on No. 17. He finished with four skins and second-place money of $11,570.

Moore got up and down from a greenside bunker on the 218-yard 17th for par.

Moore said he felt pressure to play well and admitted he was "a little nervous" over the 4-foot putt that won the next-to-last hole.

It was a long time between victorious holes for Moore, who won the first hole with a 40-foot birdie putt.

Putnam had one skin and finished with $1,750 but had the day's best shot, a 45-foot chip-in to win the second hole with a birdie.

"I kind of got shut out money-wise," Putnam said. "I made a bunch of birdies early and some of them just tied for skins. I couldn't make any late."

In a skins game, each hole has a set dollar value. If a player wins the hole, he wins the "skin" for whatever it is worth. However, if two or more golfers tie for best score on the hole, no skin is awarded and the money is carried over until someone wins a hole outright.

Moore said he is interested in holding another skins game next year.

"I'm very interested and excited about trying to get it done," he said.

Players kidded each other throughout the round but also played to win.

"That's what's fun — four guys here, all good mates," Aussie Baddeley said. "We're all competitive, so it's great."

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com