Norman, son win $800,000

Golf Skills Challenge

AVENTURA, Fla. -- Greg Norman Jr. hit a 111-yard pitching wedge to within an inch of the cup in the final event Monday, and he and his father won the $800,000 Golf Skills Challenge.

"I had no idea it was going to be that close," said Norman Jr., who returns to classes at the University of Miami on Wednesday $145,000 richer for his share of the top prize. "I got lucky."

Greg Sr. seemed delighted about the shot by his 23-year-old son, a professional kiteboarder by trade.

"That's what teamwork is all about," the elder Norman said.

Sponsored by ADT, the event at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort and Club featured four pairings of pros and their caddies -- the Normans, U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate and Matthew Achatz, Fred Couples and Joe LaCava, and Peter Jacobsen and Mike Cowan.

The teams competed in eight skills -- long drive, mid iron, greenside bunker, pitch over hazard, trouble shot, chip shot, putting and short iron.

The short-iron test featured the biggest prize -- $250,000 for winner. Mediate lipped out in his attempt to better the younger Norman's pitching-wedge shot.

The Normans won two other skills -- the putting and the pitch over hazard. Norman Sr. holed out on both shots.

Achatz won the greenside bunker by holing the chip shot and the trouble shot.

"There was no luck out there, just rusty skills," Achatz said, laughing. "This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. For me, this is as big as it ever will get. I went from being a restaurant waiter to doing this."

Couples won the long drive with a 311-yard shot.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press