The first-ever Skins Game in 1983 was a star-studded event, as the biggest names in the sport battled it out for eye-popping amounts of money.

Played at Desert Highlands Golf Club in Arizona, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson did battle for their share of $360,000. For reference, the most money Palmer had won at a tournament prior to that was $50,000.

At the event, each hole was worth a cash amount, or a “skin”. If a player had the lowest score on a hole, they won the skin. If two or more players tied the hole, the skin was carried over until someone was the outright winner.

Player was the winner of the first Skins Game, taking home $170,000. Meanwhile, Watson won the least amount of money with $10,000. But the event wasn’t without its controversy. On the 16th hole, Watson and Player were battling it out for $150,000 when Player was accused of breaking the rules.

Why Tom Watson accused Gary Player of breaking the rules during the Skins Game

Player won an eye-watering sum of $150,000 on the 17th hole to eventually claim victory at the first Skins Game. But a bitter taste was left in Watson’s mouth. After the event, Watson accused Player of foul play on the 16th.

That hole was tied, meaning the money rolled over to the 17th when Player won his huge sum. But Watson accused the South African of moving a rooted leaf that rested on his ball, which eventually led to him tying the hole.

Watson argued that the leaf was a loose impediment and therefore couldn’t be moved, but Player said that the leaf was loose.

Watson said to Player, “’I’m accusing you, Gary…you can’t do that…I’m tired of this… I wasn’t watching you, but I saw it.” Player said, “’I was within the rules,” in response.

What followed was a public feud between the pair, which Watson called his biggest regret.

Tom Watson called Gary Player feud his biggest regret

The incident was far from finished in Arizona. Watson later spoke to the Washington Post, and explained his stance.

He said, “What I saw was a violation. As I saw it, he was moving a leaf of a weed right behind his ball so he could have a clear path to the ball for the club face of his club. I know the leaf was rooted because it popped back up to its original position.

“Whether Player was ignorant of the rule or was trying to improve his line of play is something that lies within his heart. We’ll never know. I didn’t get much sleep last night for thinking about it. I know this is a keg of dynamite.

“I know how reputations can be damaged. There are probably even people who will think this is sour grapes.”

This clearly affected the relationship between the players, which Watson deeply regretted.

Watson later said, “If we overlook the rules, then the game as we know it would become something much less than it is. My greatest regret, though, is that this private matter became a public incident.”

It’s understandable that Watson felt shortchanged by the event, finishing with $160,000 less than Player. And unfortunately, with the lack of cameras covering Player at the time, we’ll never really know the truth.