GOLF / SENIOR SKINS GAME : Palmer Is Rescue-Proof With $190,000

MAUNA LANI, Hawaii — When Arnold Palmer ran in a 22-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, Jack Nicklaus and Raymond Floyd faced a full-blown emergency in golf’s Senior Skins Game.

So they dialed “Nine Juan Juan,” for help from Chi Chi Rodriguez, whose given name is Juan.

But Rodriguez was unable to answer the call for help, and Palmer picked up $140,000 on the hole and made a successful defense of his money-winning title in this two-day, four-man, 18-hole, made-for-television event.

“A hell of a day,” Palmer, 63, said after pocketing $190,000 from the total purse of $450,000 for his second consecutive victory and third in four years.

“A great thrill,” Palmer said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. But it’s still fun, still a thrill. One of the great thrills I’ve ever had is being able to win today.”

He showed that unabashed joy by trotting along the gallery ropes and slapping not-so-high-fives with the fans on his way to the next tee.

Palmer had to have some help before the celebration.

Nicklaus and Floyd, who were out of the hole after driving into a lava bed, were standing at the side of the green chanting “Nine Juan Juan,” after Palmer’s putt.

That’s the name Rodriguez said he had adopted when, in an emergency, he was summoned to the field to replace Lee Trevino, who is recovering after thumb surgery.

And Rodriguez had the opportunity to provide emergency relief. He had an 18-footer to tie Palmer on the 16th and force a carry-over of the prize money.

But Rodriguez’s putt slid by on the left and Palmer’s victory was assured.

Another $70,000 remained up for play, but the next two holes were halved in pars and Rodriguez eventually won it with a 12-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

That made him the No. 2 money-winner for the two days at $145,000. Floyd, who was shut out after the sixth hole of first-day play, won $60,000 and Nicklaus collected $55,000.

“I just lost confidence in my putter,” said Floyd, who missed birdie putts of less than six feet on each of the two playoff holes.

And Nicklaus, making his first start of the year, kept driving into the lava beds.

“I can’t remember when I played this bad for two days,” Nicklaus said. “I’ve worked pretty darn hard for three months with very disappointing results.”

Nicklaus won $25,000 with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole, “then wasn’t seen the rest of the day,” he said.

He had a chance on the first playoff hole. So did Palmer and Floyd. All had six-footers for birdie. Rodriguez faced a 15-footer for par.

Chi Chi made his.

Then the other three missed.

“The odds are a million to one,” Rodriguez said.

Given second life, he made a 12-footer on the next hole, then watched in surprise as both Palmer and Floyd missed from shorter range.

“A million to one,” Rodriguez repeated.