The Skins Game, making its return on Black Friday after 17 years, will feature four recent Ryder Cup participants.
U.S. captain Keegan Bradley and team members Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele will join Tommy Fleetwood of the victorious European squad at Panther National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Nov. 28.
“We’ve taken up the mantle to bring back The Skins Game, and reclaim its rightful place on the sports calendar,” said Chad Mumm, co-founder and president of event organizer Pro Shop.
“By keeping the traditional format intact and adding some creative twists, we’re giving fans an experience that honors the past while delivering pure, high-stakes competition where the pressure builds with every shot.”
The first Skins Game was played in 1983 and featured four of the game’s biggest names in history: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson. The players vied for cash prizes on each hole — also known as a “skin” — and trash talking became a staple. Player won the first Skins Game and $170,000.
As the contest grew through the years, so did the prizes, with Fred Couples hauling in five victories and more than $4.4 million before the final event in 2008.
One of the “twists” Mumm mentioned for this time around is the “reverse purse.” Each player will start with $1 million, with that total adjusted based on winning or losing a hole. Each hole will still have a dollar value.
The Skins Game will air on Amazon Prime Video at 9 a.m. ET on Black Friday.
It’s worth noting that Thomas consulted with Nicklaus on the design of Panther National, which opened in 2023.
–Field Level Media
