Rules change a bit when poker pros hit golf course

Only in Vegas.

When some of the world's best poker players take a break from the high-stakes pressure of the jade felt tables, they head to the emerald fairways and greens of golf courses. Not for relaxation, but for more high-stakes anxiety where 9-irons and oversized drivers replace pocket aces in their hands.

"Golf is another form, like an outdoor pool hall or an outdoor poker table, for us to compete in," said Dewey Tomko, a regular in the World Series of Poker and at the biggest cash games in Las Vegas. "We do this almost every day so we're used to it. But there's pressure. Unlike the PGA Tour, if we miss a putt, we could lose $1 million cash of our own money."

In a marriage of golf, poker and gambling, the inaugural Doyle Brunson and Dewey Tomko Golf Invitational was played recently at the Bali Hai Golf Club near the Las Vegas Strip and featured a number of the best poker players in the world playing for stakes that would make Tiger Woods sweat.

ESPN filmed the two-event tournament, which is part of the High Stakes Entertainment Golf Tour. High Stakes Entertainment was formed to create programming that provides a glimpse into the world of sports and gambling.

In last week's premiere on ESPN, nine players each put up $1 million of their own money. The second event, which airs Sunday (3-5 p.m. ET), features nine two-person teams playing best-ball matches for a purse of $4.5 million. That's a $250,000 buy-in for each player.
Among those joining Tomko are Brunson, Daniel "Kid Poker" Negreanu, Phil "The Poker Brat" Hellmuth, Phil Ivey and Erick Lindgren.

These are not scratch golfers. There are no neatly pressed slacks and silk golf shirts. And with golf swings Rodney Dangerfield wouldn't have wanted in Caddyshack, some players are allowed to use a tee on every shot.

Instead of using handicaps to even the playing field, six different tee boxes are used to create a more level competition. There also is no 14-club rule; some players carry as many as 40 clubs.

Money is a great equalizer.

"I can't handle playing the stock market for millions of dollars; it just drives me crazy," said Tomko, who teamed with Brunson and Vince Van Patten for last week's win, with each netting $1 million. "But I can play for millions on the poker table and the golf course."

Move likely:

The No. 3-ranked player in the world, Jim Furyk, doesn't know if the PGA Tour will move the Tour Championship to a date after the Ryder Cup next year, but he's certain of one thing: Leaving everything alone would ensure players skipping at least one FedExCup playoff event.

"I guarantee it," Furyk said at last week's Grand Slam of Golf.

The tour is looking at several scenarios for 2008, the only year in the TV contract in which the Ryder Cup falls immediately after the four-week FedExCup. A decision is expected at the policy board meeting Nov. 12.

Contributing: The Associated Press

News Added: 25 October, 2007

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