
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The history of The Champions Skins Game begins with the birth of its older
sibling, The Skins Game, in 1983. Don Ohlmeyer -- a former executive producer
with NBC who started Ohlmeyer Communications Company (now OCC Sports,
Inc.) a year earlier -- approached Barry Frank, senior corporate vice
president at International Management Group (Trans World International)
with an exciting proposal for a new televised golf event.
The Skins Game was an original concept for the television industry, but
the popular betting format has been played by recreational golfers for
years, adding spice and good-natured competition to many a round.
Undaunted by cynics, Ohlmeyer sensed that golfers everywhere would take
to The Skins Game concept the same way they have to the friendly competition
in their foursomes each weekend.
Ohlmeyer knew the key ingredients for a successful event would include
the top players, big dollars and plenty of drama created by having that
money pot available on each hole, with carryovers if nobody won the previous
hole.
To make the idea a made-for-television hit, he and Frank invited four
of golf's greatest -- Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tom
Watson -- and convinced advertisers that The Skins Game was an outright
winner. Advertisers immediately agreed with the event's potential and
jumped on board, turning The Skins Game into an instant success.
In 1988, The Senior Skins Game made its television debut, featuring the
greatest players on the Senior PGA Tour, featuring golfing greats Chi
Chi Rodriguez, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead. In 2003, the
tournament assumed a new name when the Senior PGA Tour changed its name to the Champions
Tour. As a result, the event evolved into the Champions
Skins Game. In 2004, Wendy's came on board as the event's new title
sponsor.
In 2006, the tournament introduced an exciting new format: eight players
competing in two-man teams. The change doubled the field to the delight of
golf fans. Under this new formant, Raymond Floyd and Dana Quigley captured
the first team win of this event, earning 10 skins and a record-setting
$510,000.
Champions
Skins Game - Past Winners
1988: Chi Chi Rodriguez
1989: Chi Chi Rodriguez
1990: Arnold Palmer
1991: Jack Nicklaus
1992: Arnold Palmer
1993: Arnold Palmer
1994: Raymond Floyd
1995: Raymond Floyd
1996: Raymond Floyd
1997: Raymond Floyd
1998: Raymond Floyd
1999: Hale Irwin
2000: Gary Player
2001: Hale Irwin
2002: Hale Irwin
2003: Lee Trevino
2004: Tom Watson
2005: Jack Nicklaus
2006: Raymond Floyd & Dana Quigley
Champions Skins Game - Photo
Album
All photos by Ray
Mains & Associates Photography;
© Wailea Golf LLC.

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