Skins Game 1984-87: History and a Lee Trevino Ace
By Tim Letcher
The Skins Game kept its status as must see TV in its early days. The ratings were great and those who tuned in saw Lee Trevino with an ace in 1987.
The Skins Game was a big success in its inaugural season in 1983. Gary Player won the first Skins Game, beating Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson. All four players returned for the second version of the made-for-TV event, which was important in the history of golf
In the second version, no skins were won on the first eight holes, with at least two players tying on those holes. When the ninth hole came around, it was the Golden Bear who broke the ice.
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And he broke it in a big way, financially. Nicklaus stepped up and rolled in a 12-foot putt for birdie, claiming nine skins and $240,000. Nicklaus tossed his putter into the air to celebrate the putt and the winnings.
As the event rolled on, no one would catch Nicklaus that season. Watson would end up finishing second but the Golden Bear was the clear winner on that day.
The following season, Fuzzy Zoeller replaced Player, and paired with Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson. And the rookie made the most of his opportunity.
Zoeller won $255,000 that year to take the title ahead of Watson. Not a bad debut for the former Masters champion.
In fact, the Indiana native returned the next season, in 1986, and had an even better Skins Game. Zoeller won a then-record $370,000, topping Nicklaus, Palmer and Lee Trevino, who finished second in his first try in the event.
Trevino would come back the next season and win his first Skins Game. Trevino pocketed $310,000 and did so in dramatic fashion.
The carryover on the par-3 17th made the hole worth $175,000. Trevino calmly stepped to the tee and hit what Nicklaus called a “pretty shot”. Indeed it was, as the ball came to rest in the bottom of the cup, the first hole in one in the history of the Skins Game.
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At that point, in 1987, the Skins Game was drawing huge television ratings. It was one of, if not the most, watched golf events every season. And why not? It was a chance to get up close with some of the greatest players in the history of the game in a fun format that allowed fans to feel like they were a part of the foursome.