Sorenstam stops Scott clean-up in Skins

Annika Sorenstam’s only birdie of the day denied Adam Scott a huge pay-off and set up an intriguing second day of the La Quinta Skins Game.

Playing with PGA Tour stars Scott, Tiger Woods and Fred Couples, Sorenstam struggled to keep up with the longer-hitting men.

The Swedish star of the LPGA Tour had bogeyed the seventh and eighth holes at the Trilogy Golf Club.

But at the 500-yard par-five ninth hole – the last of the day – Scott drove the green in two and two-putted from 30 feet.

When Woods lipped out a five-footer and Couples drove into the fairway bushes, Scott stood to win halved skins from the six previous holes and $250,000 (€188,000).

But Sorenstam hit a driver and a five-wood to get within striking distance. She left a beautiful chip five feet from the green and made the putt to again halve the hole.

That means Sunday’s first hole is worth eight skins and $300,000 (€225,000).

All but $50,000 (€37,000) of the $1m (€750,000) in prize money will be available on Sunday.

Scott, making his Skins Game debut, was the only player to cash in on Saturday, picking up two skins and $50,000 with a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-four second hole, playing his way out of a bunker.