La Quinta, Calif. ? Annika Sorenstam earned $225,000 and a whole lot of respect with a second-place finish in the otherwise all-male Skins Game.

Fred Couples, the grand master of the skins format, won the event for a record fourth time. He collected all but $25,000 of his $605,000 Sunday, the final day of the 18-hole, made-for-television event.

“I think she played terrific golf,” Couples said. “I certainly didn’t play better than Annika. I just made a few more putts and a couple of lucky shots.”

Phil Mickelson was third with $170,000. Mark O’Meara won nothing, one year after earning $405,000 to take the title.

“I’ve played with a lot of fine players,” O’Meara said, “and I’d have to put Annika at the top of the list.”

Couples won eight skins — seven Sunday. Sorenstam and Mickelson had five apiece.

“I’m very glad I came. I’ve enjoyed it so much,” Sorenstam said. “It’s really an honor for me to play with all three of them. They’ve been so great to me, and I’ve learned a lot this week. It really tops a wonderful year.”

Couples birdied the 17th three times, twice in a four-hole playoff to determine the winner of the par-5, 575-yard 18th. Couples clinched the title when he and Mickelson birdied the second playoff hole, the par-3 17th, and Sorenstam didn’t.

But Couples and Mickelson needed two more playoff holes to end it. Couples’ 20-footer for birdie, again on the 17th, added $200,000 to his day. His first time on the 17th, Couples won a $140,000 skin by sinking a 55-footer for birdie.