It’s no secret that 2025 Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley walked into the fall season carrying a chip on his shoulder. The United States’ 13–15 loss to Europe at Bethpage Black left him with the kind of sting only golf can deliver. Bradley was blunt about it: “You win, it’s glory for a lifetime. You lose, and you’re going to have to sit with it for the rest of your life.” Thankfully, Black Friday gave him something of a reset.

It was a chance to step back inside the ropes against two of Europe’s heroes, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, with Xander Schauffele completing the foursome. With $4 million (total prize money) on the line, the Skins Game was revived for the first time since 2008, and Amazon Prime Video turned the Panther National into golf’s holiday main event.

How the Skins Game Played Out

Each player began with $1 million under a reverse-purse system. The rules were simple: When a player won a hole outright, that amount was added to their total; when they lost on a hole that had value attached, the same amount was deducted. If the players tied a hole, the money rolled over to the next one, increasing the pressure as the pot grew.

The early holes rolled over and allowed the pot to build before anyone made a move. The 13th became one of the biggest moments of the day when 4 skins were carried, and the hole reached $900,000. Keegan Bradley converted the birdie and claimed the largest payout at that point in the match.

While Tommy Fleetwood later won $1,125,000 on the final hole, Bradley closed the day with 11 skins and $2.1 million. Fleetwood finished with 4 skins and $1.7 million, Lowry picked up 1 skin worth $200,000, and Schauffele was shut out but kept the group relaxed and the broadcast entertaining.

Keegan Bradley Gets His Revenge

Bradley set the tone on the 5th hole. The first 4 holes had been tied, and nothing had separated the players. When Fleetwood and Lowry failed to match a birdie, Keegan Bradley stepped in and collected the first skin of the day, worth $375,000.

In the on-course interview with the Sports on Prime broadcast team after the hole, Keegan Bradley couldn’t hold back a grin. “Oh man, that felt good. I need as much revenge against Tommy and Shane as I can get.”

Fleetwood answered Bradley’s early surge with a birdie on the 6th to claim a $150,000 skin, but Bradley regained control on the 8th and moved to seven skins through the opening stretch. Lowry finally broke through on the 9th after nearly holing his eagle chip, leaving Schauffele as the only player without a skin at the turn. The back nine tightened when holes 10 through 12 tied, building the carryover that pushed the 13th to $900,000.

Keegan Bradley converted that opportunity with a birdie to take four skins. Meanwhile Fleetwood delivered the last big moment of the day by winning the 16th for $1,125,000 and the new single-hole record. The 39-year-old finished with 11 skins, Fleetwood with 4, Lowry with 1, and Schauffele was winless.

A strong comeback for the Skins Game, and an even stronger statement from Bradley. Tell us what you thought of the contest in the comments. 

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi