'Skins Match making a comeback after 17 years'
The Skins Game, formerly a yearly highlight during the PGA Tour season, will make a comeback in 2025.
The tournament is set to take place on Black Friday and will be organized by Pro Shop, a golf media company.
The inaugural Skins Game was held in 1983 and featured four of the sport's most renowned figures: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. The players competed for cash prizes on each hole, also known as "skins," and playful banter became a trademark of the event. Player emerged as the first Skins Game champion, earning $170,000.
As the competition gained popularity over the years, so did the rewards, with Fred Couples claiming five victories and over $4.4 million before the final edition in 2008.
"The Skins Game embodies our core values at Pro Shop - honoring the rich traditions of golf while creating top-notch experiences that resonate with today's modern audience," stated Chad Mumm, executive producer of the Netflix documentary "Full Swing" and head of Pro Shop.
The specific format has not been revealed, nor has the location for the Skins Game, which traditionally took place in a desert setting, or the participants and prize amounts.
One PGA Tour official is pleased to see the event return.
"Reimagining an iconic tournament like the Skins Game in a retro-modern manner that engages today's sports fans is exactly why the PGA Tour has joined forces with Pro Shop," remarked Chris Wandell, senior vice president of media for the PGA Tour. "We are eager to see how the newest rendition of the Skins Game unfolds."
