The PGA Tour has announced that ‘The Skins Game’ will make its return after a 17-year hiatus and there’ll be considerable Ryder Cup flavour with all four participants being heavily involved at Bethpage Black.
Leading European points scorer Tommy Fleetwood will compete with U.S. Ryder Cup team members Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele and U.S. team captain, Keegan Bradley in the made-for-tv contest at Florida’s Panther National Golf Club on November 28.
First staged in 1983 with the legendary quartet of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson competing, the Skins Game has featured other greats including Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples during its initial 26-year run. The last staging was in 2008 when Mickelson, Stephen Ames, Rocco Mediate and K.J. Choi appeared, with the Korean taking the lion’s share of the spoils.
Staying true to its roots, the Skins Game assigns a dollar value to each hole. If no one wins a hole outright, the money carries over, escalating the stakes. This year introduces a “reverse purse” twist: each player starts with $1 million, and their total rises or falls depending on whether they win or lose holes.
“The PGA Tour is proud to bring back the iconic ‘Skins Game’ as the kickoff to the sports calendar’s biggest day of the year,” said Chris Wandell, the PGA Tour’s senior vice president for media.
“With four of our game’s biggest stars competing in a modern reimagining of this nostalgic event, fans around the world are in for a treat this Black Friday as the Tour tees off a full day of sports action on Prime Video.”
“We’ve taken up the mantle to bring back The Skins Game and reclaim its rightful place on the sports calendar,” added Chad Mumm, co-founder and president of Pro Shop who are the primary sponsor. “By keeping the traditional format intact and adding some creative twists, we’re giving fans an experience that honours the past while delivering pure, high-stakes competition where the pressure builds with every shot.”
The event will be broadcast on Prime Video, and will begin at 9 am ET (2 pm Irish time).
