Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama and Jason Day competed Monday in the MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins. Here’s a look at how the action played out at Accordia Golf Narashino C.C. in Chiba, Japan.
After the quartet split the first two holes with pars, Day rolled in a 10-footer for birdie at the third hole to claim three skins and $30,000.
3 skins and $30,000 for @JDayGolf.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 21, 2019
He takes the early lead.#TheChallengeJapanSkins pic.twitter.com/SR8F5pLAHT
The fourth hole was split with pars and when his three competitors went into the water on the 177-yard, par-3 fifth, Woods won the hole by getting up and down for par from a greenside bunker.
Tiger for 2 skins and $20k: Money
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) October 21, 2019
Stream #TheChallengeJapanSkins via PGA TOUR Live on @NBCSportsGold: https://t.co/15kxlyuuPe pic.twitter.com/gtvTYoo966
Woods claimed two skins and $20,000.
At the par-3 seventh, each competitor was partnered with a rugby legend and they played a two-man scramble. The hole was tied in birdie as Matsuyama made a long putt and McIlroy’s partner, Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll, countered.
Hideki and Rory will both remember the 7th for two very different reasons.
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) October 21, 2019
Stream #TheChallengeJapanSkins via PGA TOUR Live on @NBCSportsGold: https://t.co/15kxlyuuPe pic.twitter.com/5nsndWQg1y
Woods then took the event lead at the next with a birdie at the par-4 eighth, worth three skins and $40,000.
A birdie for @TigerWoods from the rough.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 21, 2019
He's now won 5 skins and $60,000.
Tiger leads #TheChallengeJapanSkins. pic.twitter.com/9YNYC8Olge
At that point, Woods had 5 skins and $60,000. Day had three skins and $30,000. And McIlroy and Matsuyama were at zero. The next three holes were tied, leaving the 12th worth four skins and $60,000, which McIlroy claimed.
Reminder: @McIlroyRory is good at golf.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 21, 2019
One hole. Four skins. $60,000.
He's tied for the lead with @TigerWoods. pic.twitter.com/b98bD88qo6
Matsuyama finally got on the board by winning the 13th to claim one skin and $20,000.
Buckets! Hideki cashes in for the first time at the 13th.
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) October 21, 2019
Tiger: $60K
Rory: $60K
J-Day: $30K
Hideki: $20K
Stream #TheChallengeJapanSkins via PGA TOUR Live on @NBCSportsGold: https://t.co/15kxlyuuPe pic.twitter.com/dXS6yf8pGY
Nos. 14-16 were tied and the par-4 17th was worth four skins and $80,000. With Matsuyama and Woods in pocket, and under the lights, Day made his par putt while McIlroy could not convert his.
Jason didn't know which way this putt broke. So he aimed straight. #TheChallengeJapanSkins pic.twitter.com/WDU7trYsE1
— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) October 21, 2019
With the final hole worth $100,000, Day birdied the par-5 18th. Woods needed to make a 10-footer to keep the match alive, but missed.
The up and down that made Jason Day your #TheChallengeJapanSkins champion. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/g7r5N6ELCI
— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) October 21, 2019
Day won the event, with eight skins totaling $210,000. Woods won five skins for $60,000. McIlroy won 4 skins for $60,000. Matsuyama won one skin for $20,000.