GOLF:

Though he didn’t make a single bet, Mark Ewing walked away with first place and $250,000 in the World Series of Golf last year.

The Newport Beach resident returns to defend his title and will be using the same strategy.

The event is Monday through Thursday in Las Vegas at Paiute Golf Resort, a Pete Dye course that is as challenging as the tournament format.

Open to non-professionals only, each player pays a $10,000 entry fee, which includes four nights of accommodations, opening night draw party with guest, greens and cart fees.

The format is billed as the Texas Hold ‘Em of Golf and each group antes a certain amount of money on each tee. The ante is followed by a pass, bet or fold on each golf shot, combining the skill of golf with the finesse of betting.

What helped Ewing so much last year was that his caddy, Mike LeBlanc, was his caddy and bettor. LeBlanc is a high stakes poker player and used the same method of betting and strategies on the golf course that he does at the poker table.

“We play a lot of golf together and he really knows my game,� Ewing said. “The key factor in me winning was having Mike keep track of all the money and make all the bets.�

Ewing and LeBlanc got the idea to play when they were lounging around the pool at the Bellagio and saw an ad for it in a magazine.

“It was a good excuse to go to Las Vegas,� Ewing said. “I never expected to win the thing.�

But Ewing, who is a six handicap, kept knocking out people and advancing. When a player is out of money, they are out of the hole and out of the tournament. The players do not play against the field; they play against those in their group.

“You really only have to beat nine or 10 guys to win the whole thing,� Ewing said. “The most important thing is to hit fairways.�

All handicaps are welcome and different handicaps are put on different tee boxes. There are no strokes given to players so the only advantage is distance.

“It’s a pretty fair way to do it,� Ewing said. “Besides it is how you handle the pressure that counts.�

If you make it through the first round, you make enough to get your entry fee back, but Ewing didn’t come there to break even. He advanced to the finals and there played with Phil Ivey, arguably the best poker player in the world.

“He’s a good golfer, but he said that he choked when I eliminated him,� Ewing said. “He chunked two chip shots on a hole and I beat him with a par.�

Ivey usually plays in million dollar games at the most exclusive poker rooms in Vegas, but found this event to be quite a bit more pressure.

“Phil said to me it was so different than playing cards,� Ewing said. “In poker you make your bet and you wait for the cards. Here you actually have to perform after you make the bet.�

This can understandably cause big-time pressure for players, who definitely let it get to them.

“I saw people miss two-foot putts when they were all in,� Ewing said. “The pressure can really get to you.�

Ewing, who is a day trader, and regularly plays $100 Nassau at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine with friends, is used to pressure.

“When I have something riding on it, I seem to be able to perform,� Ewing said. “I practiced a lot for this event though.�

Ewing didn’t employ the same strategy this year of massive preparation, but is hoping for the same result.

“I have been playing some, but not practicing as much as I did last year,� Ewing said. “We will just have to see what happens.�

JOHN REGER’S golf column appears Thursdays.