This week, the much beloved Skins Game makes its return after 17 long years of silence. As holiday golf makes a reappearance on the screen this Black Friday, it brings along with it a few modern twists. The tournament, dating back to 1978, marked a much needed sillier side to golf. One that fans didn’t always get to see televised.
Originally featuring the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom Watson, the Skins Game also hosted greats like Fred Couples, Payne Stewart and Tiger Woods. This year is no different, with four highly popular players set to compete for the return of the Skins Game.
Skins Game Format
When it was created, the original format in mind was a skins game betting style. This started the more casual “silly season” of golf that included trash talk and gambling bets. In a typical skins game, four players compete to win individual holes. A set amount is up for grabs per hole. If any players tie, than all the money on that hole rolls over to the next hole, piling up as the putts roll.
This year, the game will feature higher stakes with a “reverse purse.” Meaning all four players start with $1 million, rather than $0. Their pockets will rise and fall with each and every hole, won or lost, depending on their bets.
2025 Skins Game
To mark its return, the Skins Game will feature some of the most popular faces in golf. These include Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley, Shane Lowry, and Xander Shauffele. Justin Thomas was slated to attend, but the 16-time Tour winner underwent surgery recently and had to withdraw from the event.
Earlier this year, Tommy Fleetwood secured not only a FedExCup win, but his first ever PGA Tour win.
Keegan Bradley, 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, notably beat Fleetwood during the 2025 Travelers Championship. During this event, many viewers thought Fleetwood’s PGA maiden win was inevitable.
Shane Lowry secured the win for Team Europe during this year’s Ryder Cup with a decisive half-point.
Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele, winner of the 2025 Baycurrent Classic, welcomed his first child.
Ahead of their appearances at the highly-awaited tournament, the competitors are already chirping each other, even from afar. At a recent press conference, Lowry mentioned the highly-discussed Ryder Cup, stating, “Keegan’s already paid me and Tommy extra to not talk about the Ryder Cup.”
Following the will-he wont-he discussion of Bradley’s player captain status at the Ryder Cup, he is looking forward to returning to the competition. He responded to Lowry’s comment, stating, “I won’t have a walkie-talkie in my hand on Friday. I’ll have a golf club, which is my chance to get back at these two maniacs down there.”
How to Watch
While trash talk is nothing new at the Skins Game, it is less televised in golf when compared to other sporting events. The behind-the-scenes feeling of the Skins Game allows fans to form new connections with players. Even puting the event in competition with the Masters for viewership.
Fans can watch the revived event through Prime Video. The tournament will begin on Black Friday, starting at 9 a.m. with Andrew Catalon, Colt Knost, Dan Rapaport as broadcast hosts.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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