The Skins Game is coming back after a 17-year hiatus. Fans were expecting to see Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Keegan Bradley, and Justin Thomas at the relaunch of the event. However, a last-minute change has added new energy to Black Friday’s spotlight golf event, creating brand new matchups.

Justin Thomas had to withdraw from the event due to injury. The 2x major champion underwent a successful microdiscectomy (back surgery) in November 2025. The surgery was performed in New York, and Thomas may miss the start of the 2026 PGA Tour season while recovering. His absence opened a spot at The Skins Game, and Shane Lowry has stepped in for the Black Friday showcase at Panther National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Thomas and Lowry faced each other at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Underdog Golf shared the news in an X post. “Shane Lowry replaces Justin Thomas (back) in The Skins Game on Black Friday. He’ll compete against Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, and Keegan Bradley at Panther National,” the post read.

The last time fans saw Justin Thomas playing was at Bethpage Black, where he scored crucial 2 points for his team. Although Team America didn’t win the event, they put on a strong comeback during Sunday’s singles, where Thomas scored a point, too. Since then, Justin Thomas has not played in any event on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour.

On November 14, 2025, he shared something that hints at why he was absent from the course. He shared an Instagram post revealing his back surgery. “Life update – I’ve had some nagging hip pain for a handful of months and after some time off and worsening symptoms, an MRI showed I had a disc problem that needed to be treated. I had a successful microdiscectomy performed yesterday at Hospital for Special Surgery in NY and have already been released from the hospital. I’m so grateful to the doctors and staff there for all their hard work and support,” Justin Thomas captioned the post.

This means that Thomas will be on complete rest for the next few weeks. Initially, he was roped in for the comeback of the iconic silly season event. Tiger Woods’ microdiscectomy surgeries have shown that it could take around three months for Thomas to get back on the course. Therefore, he may even miss some PGA Tour events in 2026. However, he has not set a specific date for his return. “While I will miss some events in the beginning of 2026, I want to be very smart and patient in letting my disc fully heal so it isn’t an issue again,” he wrote.

Now that he is out, Shane Lowry will replace him. This will balance the field with two members from each side of the Ryder Cup. Xander Schauffele and Keegan Bradley are from the American team. And Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are from the European team.

This will be the first Skins Game event since 2008.

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Everything to know about The Skins Game

The PGA Tour Skins Game is making its return on Black Friday, November 28, 2025, after a 17-year hiatus. Pro Shop and the PGA Tour joined hands to relaunch the event. The four golfers will play it at the Panther National. Justin Thomas co-designed the course along with Jack Nicklaus. Each golfer begins with a million dollars. A winner at each hole receives the prize money. Tied holes push larger amounts forward, creating rapid shifts that keep fans guessing.

The Skins Game maintains its traditional format. However, there’s something new coming with the relaunch. This version introduces a ‘reverse purse.’ Basically, the purse can even go backwards and adjust based on hole wins or losses of every golfer. “By keeping the traditional format intact and adding some creative twists, we’re giving fans an experience that honors the past while delivering pure, high-stakes competition where the pressure builds with every shot,” Chad Mumm, co-founder and president of Pro Shop, said.

It is a good way to keep the game relevant. The Skins Game was very popular and ran from 1983 to 2008. However, times have changed now. The reverse purse will keep fans more hooked and engaged. This can help prevent the relaunch from becoming a flop rather than a hit.

The event has seen many iconic moments. Golf legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Tom Watson have played in the Skins Game back then. In fact, the LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam once participated and won $225,000 against top male players of the game.

In the absence of Justin Thomas, now Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley, and Xander Schauffele will be tasked to make the comeback a hit.