Skins Game tickets go fast

CP

The Masters was a lead-in public relations dream for organizers of the 2010 Telus World Skins Game as tickets went on sale yesterday and were reported moving briskly for the June 21-22 event at the Bear Mountain golf resort.

"We're 50 per cent sold out already," said Dave Haggith, vice-president of communications for IMG, which owns the Skins Game.

A total of 5,000 two-day passes are available for the TSN-televised event.

Two of the five golfers coming to Victoria made splashy news as round leaders at the 2010 Masters -- veteran Fred Couples after the first day and Ian Poulter of England after the second round. Couples finished sixth at nine-under par and Poulter expressed disappointment in fading to tie for 10th at five under.

"Poulter is a world top-five player in the current rankings so you know what you're getting with him. But what [the 50-year-old] Couples did was simply astounding," said Haggith, who was at the Masters.

"That's an incredible story and one that people are really responding to. That's the allure of golf -- you can compete into your 50s and 60s."

Haggith said he expects the Skins Game to sell out within a week to 10 days.

"That's fairly typical for when the event has previously come to British Columbia [Predator Ridge at Vernon in 2000 and 2008 and Nicklaus North at Whistler in 1997 and 2005]. Victoria sales are on pace with those events, if not moving faster."

All five 2010 Telus Skins Game golfers competed in the Masters over the weekend and made the cut. Joining Couples and Poulter will be Canadian and 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, Camilo Villegas of Colombia and two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa.

Villegas and Goosen tied for 38th at six-over Sunday in Augusta while Weir was tied for 43rd at eight-over.

"Ian Poulter and Fred Couples are both remarkable golfers who will turn the eyes of the world to Victoria in June," said Joe Natale, Telus chief commercial officer.

Couples, Poulter, Weir, Villegas and Goosen will compete in a hole-by-hole competition with each hole worth a certain amount of money. The front nine holes are played on the first day, followed by the back nine holes on the second. Total prize money this year is $360,000 with players vying for $15,000 per hole from holes 1-6, $20,000 per hole from holes 7-12 and $25,000 per hole from holes 13-18.

The Telus World Skins Game is annually hosted on the Monday and Tuesday immediately following the U.S. Open, which this year is scheduled for June 17-20 in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Jeneece Place, named for Jeneece Edroff, is the charity of choice in 2010 for the Skins Game. Jeenece Place will provide accommodation and support near Victoria General Hospital for up-Island families of sick children.

Tickets for the Skins Game are available at www.telusskinsgame.com or by phone: 1-866-607-5461.