The “silly season” in golf isn’t dead after all.
The Skins Game made its return with a fresh twist — shifting to Black Friday instead of the traditional Thanksgiving weekend slot, and featuring a reverse purse that raised the stakes. While it might not capture the must-see status it enjoyed in the 1980s, it provided a welcome entertainment option before football kicked off.
The Grant Thornton Invitational has evolved into a mixed team format, which is a significant upgrade from its previous iteration.
But the most intriguing event might be just around the corner. The “Optum Golf Channel Games” debuts Wednesday night at Trump National in West Palm Beach, Florida, headlined by teams captained by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy — the two biggest names in the sport.
They’ll battle for points across five time-pressured competitions that include a driving grid, chipping and putting challenges, and a 14-club challenge where each club is removed from play after being used once.
“Just the opportunity to showcase our game in a different way,” McIlroy said. “Sort of lean into other sports in a way, like the NFL combine or the 3-pointer contest in basketball or the Home Run Derby in baseball. It’s just a chance to try something new.”
McIlroy’s squad features his Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, close friend Shane Lowry, and China’s Haotong Li — a player who rarely fails to entertain. Scheffler counters with his own Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, best mate Sam Burns, and Luke Clanton.
The time constraints should keep the action moving — two minutes for the driving challenge, three for short game skills, and an alternate shot format with players strategically positioned on the tee, fairway, and around the green. The team with the lowest score in the shortest time wins.
“I think it’s going to be a fun way to compete at the end of the year for us, in a time where there’s not a ton of stuff on the golf calendar,” Scheffler said.
Both captains seem built for this format. Scheffler is known for competing in all kinds of games with the older pros at Royal Oaks, from putting contests to trying to hit the pole on the driving range.
The 14-club challenge has particularly caught his attention, especially the possibility of being left with only a putter for a full shot.
“I’ll probably try and use a backup putter for the 14-club challenge,” he said. “I’m definitely not going to be out on the range ripping full putters trying to figure out that shot. I’m just going to figure that one out as naturally as possible within the competition.”
McIlroy shared that he grew up playing two balls and keeping both the worst and best scores on each hole. He also recalled some entertaining challenges during commercial shoots, with one standing out in particular.
“They actually made me do a flop shot over Tiger, and I was probably as nervous as I’ve been in a long time,” McIlroy said. “His body is already banged up. I didn’t want to add to it.”
