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.
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.
Women’s volleyball
Stanford advances to NCAA regional final >> Eli Rubin spiked home the kill that lifted Stanford (27-4) to a 3-1 victory over Florida (23-7) in the NCAA regional semifinals in Louisville, Ky.
The Cardinal, which prevailed 24-26, 25-17, 26-24, 29-27, will face the winner of Thursday’s late match between regional host Louisville and Purdue. The victory sends Stanford to the NCAA regional finals for the 32nd time in its history.
College football
Hunter named AP Player of the Year >> Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it.
Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote.
Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions.
Belichick ‘always wanted’ to coach in college >> Bill Belichick had just been introduced as North Carolina’s next football coach when chancellor Lee Roberts came armed with a gift: a short-sleeved gray hoodie — a bit of a trademark from Belichick’s NFL coaching days — bearing a blue interlocking “NC” logo.
It was the visual confirmation, which will take some getting used to, that the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach whose name became synonymous with NFL success has taken an unexpected first dive into college coaching. He now leads a program at a school with a national name brand but one that has been unable to sustain fleeting pockets of high-level success when it comes to football.
“I’ve always wanted to coach in college football,” Belichick said during his introductory campus news conference. “It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK.”
The school’s trustees approved terms of the deal to hire Belichick as the new football coach.
Rodriguez back at West Virginia >> Rich Rodriguez is returning to West Virginia for a second stint as head coach at his alma mater.
Athletic director Wren Baker announced the hiring, 17 years after Rodriguez exited for what became a rough three-year stint at Michigan.
Rodriguez, who is the current coach at Jacksonville State, replaces Neal Brown, who was fired on Dec. 1 after going 37-35 in six seasons, including 6-6 this year.
UNLV hires Mullen to replace Odom >> Former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen agreed to lead UNLV’s 24th-ranked football program, multple sources reported.
Mullen, 52, replaces Barry Odom, who left for Purdue after helping the Rebels receive back-to-back bowl invitations for the first time ever.
Cal will take on UNLV in the LA Bowl next Wednesday at SoFi Stadium.
MLB
Franco’s trial postponed until June >> The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025.
Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case.