A contemporary rendition of The Skins Game is set to make its comeback during the Thanksgiving week.
Pro Shop, a novel golf media enterprise spearheaded by Chad Mumm, who is recognized for his role as the executive producer of “Full Swing,” announced a partnership with the PGA Tour on Thursday.
This return marks the first time The Skins Game will be held since 2008, and the event is scheduled for Black Friday in 2025.
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the PGA Tour to display its top players outside of traditional golfing formats.
However, specific details about participants, prize money, and the venue are still pending.
Mumm expressed enthusiasm, stating that “The Skins Game embodies everything we strive for at Pro Shop — honoring the rich traditions of golf while crafting premium experiences that engage today’s modern audience.”
Mumm collaborated with Mark Olsen from Vox Media, Joe Purzycki from Puck, and David Miller from the PGA Tour to establish Pro Shop, which focuses on developing golf content aimed at a younger demographic.
Mumm’s recent acclaim comes from his work on the Netflix docuseries “Full Swing,” which is nearing its third season of release.
This past summer, Pro Shop successfully secured almost $20 million in funding from several investors, including Powerhouse Capital, the PGA Tour, and EP Golf Ventures.
Additionally, Pro Shop acquired Skratch, a digital and social media platform created by the PGA Tour a decade ago with the intention of captivating a younger audience.
The Skins Game was a staple of what was once referred to as the “silly season” in golf.
Launched in 1983, it featured legendary players such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Gary Player, with Vin Scully as the announcer, and took place over the Thanksgiving weekend in California’s desert region.
In this format, a “skin” was awarded to the player who triumphed on a hole, and the monetary value of each hole increased towards the final stages of the match.
Fred Couples emerged as a prominent figure in The Skins Game, accruing nearly $4.5 million over 11 appearances, thanks in part to his fitting personality for this laid-back contest.
However, interest in the event began to decline even with occasional participations from Tiger Woods.
The final rendition of The Skins Game occurred in 2008, following the loss of its title sponsor, which led to the cancellation of the 2009 event.
By that time, the PGA Tour had transitioned to a wraparound season, conducting sanctioned tournaments right up until the Thanksgiving holiday.
Pro Shop is set to collaborate with Propagate Content to create and produce the upcoming Skins Game.
“Reimagining an iconic event like The Skins Game in a retro-modern way that resonates with today’s sports fans is exactly why the PGA Tour has joined forces with Pro Shop,” stated Chris Wandell, the PGA Tour’s senior vice president of media.
“We are eager to see how the latest version of The Skins Game develops as Pro Shop and Propagate work to finalize casting, format, and creative concepts.”
