This Friday, November 28th, golf fans get something we haven’t had in seventeen years: The Skins Game returns to our television screens. At 9:00 a.m. ET on Prime Video, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffele, and Keegan Bradley will revive a tradition that defined Thanksgiving weekend for an entire generation of golfers.
As someone who spent countless Friday mornings glued to the television watching this event, I can tell you the original Skins Game wasn’t just entertainment. It was a masterclass in pressure golf, and the lessons from those legendary moments still apply to every golfer today.
Let me take you through four unforgettable Skins Game moments and what they taught us about the mental game.
Greg Norman’s Perfect Storm (2001)
In 2001, Greg Norman did something that had never been done before and hasn’t been done since: he won every single skin. All eighteen holes. The entire million-dollar purse.
But here’s what made it remarkable. That year, they introduced a “validation” rule where you had to tie or win the next hole to collect your skin from the previous hole. Norman was the only player who could handle that pressure. He won the 17th hole, then tied for low on 18 to collect $800,000. It was the largest single skin in history. Then he won the playoff for the final $200,000.
The Lesson: Confidence compounds. Norman didn’t just play well on one hole. He carried that momentum forward, shot after shot. When you make a great putt or hit a perfect approach, don’t just celebrate and move on. Capture that feeling. Remember exactly how it felt. Use it to fuel the next shot.
In your own game, this means staying present after success. Too many golfers make a birdie, then immediately start worrying about protecting their score. Norman showed us that the best golf happens when you build on success rather than defend it.
Lee Trevino’s Ace (1987)
Lee Trevino stepped up to the par-3 17th hole and made a hole-in-one. The crowd erupted. The money was his. But what most people don’t remember is that CBS’s Brent Musburger spoiled it during an NFL halftime report before the taped broadcast even aired.
Trevino didn’t care. He still walked away with $310,000 and one of the most memorable moments in Skins Game history.
The Lesson: Sometimes golf gives you gifts. Take them. Don’t overthink them. Don’t apologize for them.
How many times have you hit a terrible shot that somehow found the green? Or holed a chip you had no business making? Instead of feeling lucky, own it. Golf is hard enough. When the game gives you something, accept it with gratitude and move forward.
Trevino’s ace also reminds us that on par-3s, you should always be aggressive to the pin when the situation calls for it. He wasn’t trying to make a hole-in-one, but he was committed to his target. That commitment is what creates magic.
Fred Couples’ Dynasty (1995-1996, 1999, 2003-2004)
Fred Couples won five Skins Games and earned the nickname “Mr. Skins” by collecting $4.4 million over eleven appearances. He won 77 individual skins – more than anyone in history.
What made Couples so dominant? His tempo never changed. Whether he was playing for $25,000 or $200,000, his swing looked exactly the same. Smooth. Effortless. Repeatable.
The Lesson: Your pre-shot routine and tempo are your anchors under pressure. When the stakes rise, everything in your body wants to speed up. Your thoughts race. Your hands get quick. Your swing gets fast.
Couples proved that the players who maintain their rhythm are the ones who win when it matters. In your own game, this means practicing your tempo on the range until it becomes automatic. Count in your head. Use a swing thought that promotes smoothness. Make your practice swing match your real swing.
When pressure hits, your routine is all you have. Make it bulletproof.
Curtis Strange’s Back-to-Back Wins (1989-1990)
Curtis Strange won consecutive Skins Games in 1989 and 1990, collecting $490,000 total. What made Strange special wasn’t just his ball-striking – it was his ability to make clutch putts when the money was on the line.
In both years, Strange won critical skins late in the round when the pressure was highest and the money had accumulated. He didn’t just play well. He played his best when it mattered most.
The Lesson: Pressure is a privilege. The players who embrace it are the ones who succeed.
Strange understood something that most amateur golfers struggle with: pressure means you’re in contention. It means you have a chance. Instead of trying to avoid pressure situations, he sought them out.
In your own game, this means reframing how you think about pressure. That three-footer to win the match? That’s not something to fear. That’s your opportunity to prove what you’re made of. Welcome it.
Curtis Strange was one of the best golfers of the 1980s, and he won the Skins Game title in 1989 over players like Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus. The Desert Sun Mon Nov 27 1989
This Friday’s Revival
When Fleetwood, Lowry, Schauffele, and Bradley tee it up this Friday at Panther National, they’ll be carrying forward a tradition built on these legendary moments. They’ll face the same pressure. The same stakes. The same opportunity to create memories that last forever.
Set your alarm for 9:00 a.m. Watch how they handle the pressure. Study their routines. Notice their tempo. See how they respond to both success and failure.
The Skins Game is back, and with it, a masterclass in pressure golf that every player can learn from.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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