The Skins Game Returns This Friday: A Thanksgiving Tradition Reborn
Back in early October, I wrote about the return of The Skins Game with the kind of excitement I hadn’t felt about a golf event in years. That kid sprawled out on the living room floor watching Nicklaus and Palmer battle for real money? He’s still in here somewhere, and this Friday morning, he gets to relive it all over again.
The wait is almost over.
Friday Morning, 9:00 a.m. Sharp
This Black Friday, while most of America is either sleeping off turkey comas or fighting crowds at the mall, I’ll be doing what I did as a kid: watching The Skins Game. Prime Video brings it back at 9:00 a.m. ET, and I’m telling you right now, this is appointment television.
Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffele, and Keegan Bradley. Four of the best players in the world. One course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Justin Thomas. Eighteen holes where every shot matters because there’s actual money on the line.
This isn’t some exhibition where guys are going through the motions. This is pressure golf with a twist, and that’s what made the original so special.
What Made Me Fall in Love With This Format
I’ve spent nearly three decades in this industry. Seventeen years as a PGA Professional and coach. I’ve seen every format, every gimmick, every attempt to make golf “more exciting” for television. Most of them miss the mark.
The Skins Game never did.
There was something pure about it. Four elite players. Simple rules. Win the hole outright, take the money. Tie? It carries over, and suddenly the next hole is worth twice as much. The tension builds naturally. No manufactured drama needed.
I still remember Lee Trevino’s hole-in-one in 1987. I was just 12, but that still plays in my memory banks to this day. Greg Norman taking every single skin in 2001 and walking away with the full million. Fred Couples earning the nickname “Mr. Skins” by absolutely owning this event year after year.
Those moments stuck with me because they felt real. The players cared. You could see it in their eyes on every putt that mattered.
Why This Year’s Field Is Perfect
When I heard Fleetwood, Lowry, Schauffele, and Bradley were playing, I knew they got it right. These guys understand what this event is about. They know the history. They respect it.
Fleetwood is the 2025 FedExCup champion. Schauffele has two majors. Bradley just captained the U.S. Ryder Cup team and won at Travelers this summer. Lowry brings that Irish fire we all love.
But here’s what really matters: these guys have personality. They can talk trash. They can handle pressure. They know how to put on a show without making it feel forced.
The press conference quotes from last week had me laughing out loud. Lowry joking that Keegan already paid him and Tommy extra not to talk about the Ryder Cup. Bradley firing back that he won’t have a walkie-talkie in his hand, just a golf club, which is his chance to get back at them.
That’s the energy this event needs.
The New Twist
Here’s something different this year: all four players start with $ 1 million. They contribute to the pot on each hole. The goal? Finish with more than you started with. Otherwise, you’re going home with empty pockets.
That adds a whole new layer of pressure. It’s not just about winning money. It’s about not losing what you already have. Every hole becomes a calculation. Every decision carries weight.
I love it.
Panther National: The Perfect Stage
Jack Nicklaus and Justin Thomas designed this course together. Elevation changes unusual for Florida. Water on fourteen of eighteen holes. Island greens. Island tees. This place was built for moments like this.
Thomas and Schauffele are both ambassadors for Panther National, so they know every break, every angle. That could be an advantage. Or it could be added pressure when you’re expected to perform on your home turf.
Either way, the stage is set.
Set Your Alarm
Friday morning. 9:00 a.m. Prime Video. The Skins Game returns after seventeen years.
I’ll be watching with the same excitement I had as a kid. Maybe you will too. Maybe you’ll introduce your own kids to this format and create new memories.
This is what Thanksgiving weekend golf should be. Not some corporate exhibition. Not some watered-down made-for-TV event. Just four great players, real stakes, and golf the way it’s meant to be played.
See you Friday morning.
Related: A Classic Is Back: Skins Game to Return in November at Panther National
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Nov 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Golf section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
