Skins Game
Encyclopedia
A skins game is a type of scoring for various sports, most notably golf
but also for curling
and bowling
.
season. It is recognized by the PGA Tour but does not count towards the official money list. It was most recently sponsored by LG
and was officially known as the LG Skins Game, hosted at the Indian Wells Golf Resort in Indian Wells
, California
.
The Skins Game differs from most PGA Tour golf tournaments in several ways. Only four golfers are invited to the tournament and the golfers play to win individual holes or "skins" in a match play
format. Each hole is assigned a different monetary value and the golfer who wins the hole with the best score outright wins the money for that hole. In the event that two or more golfers tie (which is called "halving") on a hole, the skins carry over to the next hole. In the event that two or more golfers halve the final hole, a playoff begins until one golfer wins a hole outright. (In a playoff that requires more than one playoff hole, if a player is not one of those that halve the playoff hole, he is eliminated—it is not "one tie, all tie".)
Fred Couples
is given the nickname of "Mr. Skins" because of his dominance in the Skins Game. He has won $3,515,000 and 77 skins in 11 appearances. He has won five of the Skins Games overall.
The 2009 Skins Game, originally set for Thanksgiving weekend 2009, was canceled in May 2009 after LG pulled out of sponsorship. No Skins Game was scheduled for 2010.
Prize money is awarded as follows:
1 This is known as a "super skin"
The total prize money is exactly $1 million.
was the only one that could back up his win on the previous hole. He won the 17th and tied for low on the 18th hole to collect $800,000, the largest skin collected for one hole. He won the $200,000 in a playoff to win the entire $1 million dollar prize money. This rule was rescinded the following year.
and is officially known as the Telus World Skins Game, hosted at a different golf course each year within Canada.
Over the past two years the Telus Skins Game
has also incorporated a theme, which has been a "world" theme. The "world" theme incorporates 5 golfers located from different regions across the globe (5 golfers from different countries).
. In this format, teams play for ends, not scoring within an end, though points (or in some competitions, prize money as in golf's version) may be assigned to each end. To win an end, the team that has "the hammer" — the one which throws the last stone in the end, an inherent advantage — must score at least two points (under normal scoring rules) to win the end. The other team may win the end by stealing one point. If the team with the hammer gets only one point or the end is blanked, then the game points or prize money associated with that end carry over to the next, as with the golf skins game. If there are unclaimed skins after the eighth end, they are usually played off with a "draw to the button" — each team throws a single stone into an empty house (target), with the stone coming closest to the button (center) winning.
Scoring in curling skins games is done in one of two methods: in one method, an "S" is denoted if a team wins a skin, and a "C" is denoted for the team with the hammer if there is a carryover. In any event, a "0" is denoted for the other team, and an asterisk is placed beside the team with the hammer. In the other method, an "X" is denoted if a team wins a skin, and a "0" is denoted if the skin is carried over (under the team with the hammer), with the other team's entry for the end being blank. This method, however, does not keep track of which team will have the hammer in an end (which instead must be determined based on the score markings).
The Continental Cup of Curling
is the best-known bonspiel to utilize the skins format. In this bonspiel, the first game in the skins portion is played for a total of 30 points, with point values assigned on an escalating basis to each end as follows: Two points each for the first two ends, three points for the next three ends, four for the sixth end, six for the seventh end and seven for the eighth. The second game is for 40 points (distributed as 2-2-4-4-5-6-7-10), and the third for 60 points (4-4-6-6-7-9-11-13). These points are combined with those earned in earlier matches of mixed doubles, singles skills and traditional team games to determine the winner of the Cup, either the team from North America
or Europe
.
The TSN Skins Game
was an annual tournament which featured skins games. The Network was restarted in 2007.
The Skins Game was thought to have been invented by Doug Maxwell
, a noted innovator in the sport.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
but also for curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
and bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
.
LG Skins Game
There was an annual skins game for male professional golfers which takes place in November or December each year after the end of the official PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
season. It is recognized by the PGA Tour but does not count towards the official money list. It was most recently sponsored by LG
LG Group
LG Corp. is the second-largest South Korean conglomerate company following Samsung, and it is headquartered in the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. LG produces electronics, chemicals, and telecommunications products and operates subsidiaries like LG Electronics, LG Display,...
and was officially known as the LG Skins Game, hosted at the Indian Wells Golf Resort in Indian Wells
Indian Wells, California
Indian Wells is a city in Riverside County, California, in the Coachella Valley , in between Palm Desert and La Quinta. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,958....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The Skins Game differs from most PGA Tour golf tournaments in several ways. Only four golfers are invited to the tournament and the golfers play to win individual holes or "skins" in a match play
Match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; this is as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes...
format. Each hole is assigned a different monetary value and the golfer who wins the hole with the best score outright wins the money for that hole. In the event that two or more golfers tie (which is called "halving") on a hole, the skins carry over to the next hole. In the event that two or more golfers halve the final hole, a playoff begins until one golfer wins a hole outright. (In a playoff that requires more than one playoff hole, if a player is not one of those that halve the playoff hole, he is eliminated—it is not "one tie, all tie".)
Fred Couples
Fred Couples
Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship...
is given the nickname of "Mr. Skins" because of his dominance in the Skins Game. He has won $3,515,000 and 77 skins in 11 appearances. He has won five of the Skins Games overall.
The 2009 Skins Game, originally set for Thanksgiving weekend 2009, was canceled in May 2009 after LG pulled out of sponsorship. No Skins Game was scheduled for 2010.
Prize money is awarded as follows:
| Hole | Prize Money (per hole) |
|---|---|
| 1-6 | $25,000 |
| 7-12 | $50,000 |
| 13-17 | $70,000 |
| 181 | $200,000 |
1 This is known as a "super skin"
The total prize money is exactly $1 million.
Rule change
In 2001, the player winning a hole outright had to tie or win the next hole to collect his skins from the previous hole. This was very tough to do. Greg NormanGreg Norman
Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
was the only one that could back up his win on the previous hole. He won the 17th and tied for low on the 18th hole to collect $800,000, the largest skin collected for one hole. He won the $200,000 in a playoff to win the entire $1 million dollar prize money. This rule was rescinded the following year.
Milestones
- 1983: First Skins Game held, with Jack NicklausJack NicklausJack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
, Tom WatsonTom Watson (golfer)Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour....
, Arnold PalmerArnold PalmerArnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
, and Gary PlayerGary PlayerGary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six...
as the participants. NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
televises the event throughout the U.S. with Vin ScullyVin ScullyVincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV and KABC radio...
as the announcer. The only notable affilaiate not to televise the first event was KYW-TVKYW-TVKYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. - 1987: Lee TrevinoLee TrevinoLee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:...
made a hole in one on the par-3 17th hole. Though the event was taped, CBS's Brent MusburgerBrent MusburgerBrent Woody Musburger is an American sportscaster for the ESPN and ABC television networks. Formerly with CBS Sports and one of the original members of their legendary program The NFL Today, Musburger has covered NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball games. Musburger has also served as a...
told viewers about the hole in one during a halftime report on The NFL TodayThe NFL TodayThe NFL Today is an American sports series that precedes the American football program The NFL on CBS on CBS Sports. The program usually airs at noon on Sundays of the National Football League regular season...
. - 1991: Coverage moved to ABC Sports, after NBC got the rights to Notre Dame footballNotre Dame Fighting Irish footballNotre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
. - 1996: Tiger WoodsTiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
makes the first of three straight appearances in the event. He has never won. - 2001: Only time the validation system was used (see above). Also, the first (and only) time a player wins all 18 skins.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Winnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | K.J. Choi Choi Kyung-Ju Choi Kyung-Ju , also known as K. J. Choi. is a South Korean professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. Since turning pro in 1994, he has won a total of eighteen professional golf tournaments worldwide, including eight on the PGA Tour, making him Asia's most successful golfer. His... |
$415,000 |
| 2007 | Stephen Ames Stephen Ames Stephen Michael Ames is a professional golfer on the PGA Tour holding dual citizenship of Trinidad and Tobago and Canada.... (2) |
$675,000 |
| 2006 | Stephen Ames Stephen Ames Stephen Michael Ames is a professional golfer on the PGA Tour holding dual citizenship of Trinidad and Tobago and Canada.... |
$590,000 |
| 2005 | Fred Funk Fred Funk Frederick Funk is an American professional golfer.Funk was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1980 with a degree in law enforcement. He turned professional in 1981, but worked as a golf coach at his alma mater from 1982 to 1988; he did not... |
$925,000 |
| 2004 | Fred Couples Fred Couples Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship... (5) |
$640,000 |
| 2003 | Fred Couples Fred Couples Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship... (4) |
$605,000 |
| 2002 | Mark O'Meara Mark O'Meara Mark Francis O'Meara is an American professional golfer who was a prolific tournament winner on the PGA Tour and around the world from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s... (2) |
$405,000 |
| 2001 | Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
$1,000,000 |
| 2000 | Colin Montgomerie Colin Montgomerie Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31... |
$415,000 |
| 1999 | Fred Couples Fred Couples Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship... (3) |
$635,000 |
| 1998 | Mark O'Meara Mark O'Meara Mark Francis O'Meara is an American professional golfer who was a prolific tournament winner on the PGA Tour and around the world from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s... |
$430,000 |
| 1997 | Tom Lehman Tom Lehman Thomas Edward Lehman is an American professional golfer.Lehman was born in Austin, Minnesota, but Alexandria, Minnesota is credited as his official Minnesota hometown. He attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in Business/Accounting and turned professional in 1982. It took... |
$300,000 |
| 1996 | Fred Couples Fred Couples Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship... (2) |
$280,000 |
| 1995 | Fred Couples Fred Couples Frederick Steven Couples is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. A former World No. 1, he has won numerous events, most notably the 1992 Masters Tournament. In August 2011 he won his maiden senior major at the Senior Players Championship... |
$270,000 |
| 1994 | Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
$210,000 |
| 1993 | Payne Stewart Payne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... (3) |
$280,000 |
| 1992 | Payne Stewart Payne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... (2) |
$220,000 |
| 1991 | Payne Stewart Payne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... |
$260,000 |
| 1990 | Curtis Strange Curtis Strange Curtis Northrup Strange is an American professional golfer. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He spent over 200 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between their debut in 1986 and 1990.-Early years through college:Strange and his... (2) |
$225,000 |
| 1989 | Curtis Strange Curtis Strange Curtis Northrup Strange is an American professional golfer. He is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He spent over 200 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between their debut in 1986 and 1990.-Early years through college:Strange and his... |
$265,000 |
| 1988 | Raymond Floyd Raymond Floyd Raymond Loran "Ray" Floyd is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.... |
$290,000 |
| 1987 | Lee Trevino Lee Trevino Lee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:... |
$310,000 |
| 1986 | Fuzzy Zoeller Fuzzy Zoeller Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He is one of three golfers to have won The Masters in his first appearance in the event. He also won the 1984 U.S. Open, which earned him the 1985 Bob Jones Award.... (2) |
$370,000 |
| 1985 | Fuzzy Zoeller Fuzzy Zoeller Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He is one of three golfers to have won The Masters in his first appearance in the event. He also won the 1984 U.S. Open, which earned him the 1985 Bob Jones Award.... |
$255,000 |
| 1984 | Jack Nicklaus Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a... |
$240,000 |
| 1983 | Gary Player Gary Player Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six... |
$170,000 |
TELUS Skins Game
There is an annual skins game in Canada for male professional golfers which takes place in June or July each year. It is recognized by the PGA Tour but does not count towards the official money list. It is currently sponsored by TelusTELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
and is officially known as the Telus World Skins Game, hosted at a different golf course each year within Canada.
Over the past two years the Telus Skins Game
TELUS Skins Game
The Telus Skins Game is Canada's annual summer golf classic, bringing many of the most legendary names in the game. It is currently sponsored by Telus and is officially known as the Telus World Skins Game, hosted at a different golf course each year within Canada.Since 2006, the Telus Skins Game...
has also incorporated a theme, which has been a "world" theme. The "world" theme incorporates 5 golfers located from different regions across the globe (5 golfers from different countries).
Curling
A skins game format has also been adapted to the game of curlingCurling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
. In this format, teams play for ends, not scoring within an end, though points (or in some competitions, prize money as in golf's version) may be assigned to each end. To win an end, the team that has "the hammer" — the one which throws the last stone in the end, an inherent advantage — must score at least two points (under normal scoring rules) to win the end. The other team may win the end by stealing one point. If the team with the hammer gets only one point or the end is blanked, then the game points or prize money associated with that end carry over to the next, as with the golf skins game. If there are unclaimed skins after the eighth end, they are usually played off with a "draw to the button" — each team throws a single stone into an empty house (target), with the stone coming closest to the button (center) winning.
Scoring in curling skins games is done in one of two methods: in one method, an "S" is denoted if a team wins a skin, and a "C" is denoted for the team with the hammer if there is a carryover. In any event, a "0" is denoted for the other team, and an asterisk is placed beside the team with the hammer. In the other method, an "X" is denoted if a team wins a skin, and a "0" is denoted if the skin is carried over (under the team with the hammer), with the other team's entry for the end being blank. This method, however, does not keep track of which team will have the hammer in an end (which instead must be determined based on the score markings).
The Continental Cup of Curling
Continental Cup of Curling
The Continental Cup of Curling is a curling tournament held annually between teams from North America against teams from the rest of the world. Each side is represented by six teams , and compete using a unique points system. The tournament is modeled after golf's Ryder Cup...
is the best-known bonspiel to utilize the skins format. In this bonspiel, the first game in the skins portion is played for a total of 30 points, with point values assigned on an escalating basis to each end as follows: Two points each for the first two ends, three points for the next three ends, four for the sixth end, six for the seventh end and seven for the eighth. The second game is for 40 points (distributed as 2-2-4-4-5-6-7-10), and the third for 60 points (4-4-6-6-7-9-11-13). These points are combined with those earned in earlier matches of mixed doubles, singles skills and traditional team games to determine the winner of the Cup, either the team from North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
or Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The TSN Skins Game
TSN Skins Game
The TSN Curling Skins Game is an annual curling bonspiel hosted by The Sports Network. "Skins" curling had been developed as a way to make curling more interesting on TV during the time before the free guard zone rule was implemented...
was an annual tournament which featured skins games. The Network was restarted in 2007.
The Skins Game was thought to have been invented by Doug Maxwell
Doug Maxwell
Douglas Dean "Doug" Maxwell was a noted Canadian journalist and broadcaster, noted for his coverage in the sport of curling....
, a noted innovator in the sport.