Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look

By DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press

FILE - Canada's Steve Ames, right, and his caddie, Adrian Watey, chat during the Telus World Skins game at Glen Arbour golf course in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press via AP, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Andrew Vaughan]

A modern version of The Skins Game is returning to Thanksgiving week.

Pro Shop, the new golf media company led by “Full Swing” executive producer Chad Mumm, on Thursday announced a deal with the PGA Tour that brings back The Skins Game for the first time since 2008.

It will be held on Black Friday after Thanksgiving in 2025, an example of more collaboration with the PGA Tour to showcase its best players away from the traditional presentation of golf.

Still to be determined are the meat of the details — who’s playing, for how much, and where.

“The Skins Game embodies everything we strive for at Pro Shop — celebrating the rich traditions of golf while creating premium experiences that resonate with today’s modern audience,” Mumm said.

Mumm joined with Mark Olsen of Vox Media, Joe Purzycki of Puck and David Miller from the PGA Tour to launch Pro Shop, a media, commerce and entertainment company geared toward creating golf content that appeals to a younger audience.

Mumm is best known recently for his work with the Netflix docuseries “Full Swing,” now approaching its third season.

Pro Shop raised nearly $20 million this summer from Powerhouse Capital, the PGA Tour and EP Golf Ventures, among others. It also acquired Skratch, a digital and social media network the PGA Tour created about a decade ago to appeal to a younger audience.

The Skins Game was the cornerstone of what once was known as the “silly season” in golf. It began in 1983 with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Gary Player (Vin Scully was the announcer) and held over Thanksgiving weekend in the California desert.

A “skin” went to the player who won a hole, and each hole was worth money that increased toward the end of the match. Fred Couples became the face of The Skins Game from winning nearly $4.5 million in 11 appearances. He also had the personality that fit the casual contest.

But interest began to wane, even with Tiger Woods making occasional appearances.

The last Skins Game was in 2008. It lost its title sponsor and the 2009 event was canceled. By then, the PGA Tour had gone to a wraparound season with official tournaments being held right up until Thanksgiving.

Pro Shop is partnering with Propagate Content to develop and produce the new Skins Game.

“Reimagining an iconic event like The Skins Game in a retro-modern way that engages today’s sports fans is exactly why the PGA Tour has partnered with Pro Shop,” said Chris Wandell, the senior vice president of media for the PGA Tour. “We look forward to seeing how the newest iteration of the Skins Game unfolds as Pro Shop and Propagate identify cast, format and creative approach.”

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