First Thanksgiving Weekend Without Skins Game Since 1982

~Fred Couples, Five-time Skins Game champion~

Back in 1983, the Skins Game was one of the most popular events on the PGA TOUR. The inaugural competition included the likes of Gary Player, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer. During the next two decades, stars like John Daly and Payne Stewart attracted legions of fans, as the event became "must-see television" for golf fans around the country.

Let us now fast forward to today. Twenty-six years later, there will no longer be a Skins Game competition on Thanksgiving weekend. Fans will not have an opportunity to see Phil Mickelson play against Sergio Garcia, or watch the comical antics of Fred Funk and John Daly. And, strangely, it seems that most golf fans will not miss the event that much.

Not only were last year's ratings quite low, the event also lost its corporate sponsor. Unfortunately, due to the current state of the national economy, no organization was willing to sponsor the event.

Barry Frank, executive vice president of IMG, has produced the Skins Game since its inception.

"On the one hand, it will be the first Thanksgiving I've had at home in a long time, which is good," said Frank. "As part of the bigger picture, I miss the event. Not having it this year is kind of upsetting. I'm hopeful for next year."

As the economy begins to improve, golf fans from around the country will hope that the event will not only occur next year, but will be as entertaining as it used to be.

In order to attract large television audiences like before, the event will need to have high-caliber, well-known golfers in the field competing against each other once again. By inviting star players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, along with personalities like John Daly, the event could still become "must-see television" once again.

Hopefully, the Thanksgiving tradition will not only occur next year, but will also be more entertaining than ever before.

Past Five Winners of the Skins Game

~ 2008 - K.J. Choi
~ 2007 - Stephen Ames
~ 2006 - Stephen Ames
~ 2005 - Fred Funk
~ 2004 - Fred Couples