GolfTV powered by PGA Tour has announced a ‘live’ skins competition featuring Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama. The Challenge: Japan Skins on October 21 kicks off the week of the Zozo Championship, the first-ever official PGA Tour event in Japan, with both events to be played at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba.
Produced in partnership with Excel Sports Management, The Challenge: Japan Skins unites four of the top players in the world from separate continents in an exciting competition format. Alongside special in-match challenges and surprises, each hole will be assigned an increasing monetary value as the competition plays out and finishes under floodlights. Players need to win a hole outright to take a ‘skin’ (tied holes result in a ‘push’ of the skin to the next hole), so golf fans can expect to see aggressive play from start to finish.
Alex Kaplan, president and general manager of Discovery Golf, commented: “The Challenge: Japan Skins is a unique experience that no golf fan will want to miss and will be an exciting way to begin Zozo Championship week. GolfTV powered by PGA Tour is growing to become the one-stop-shop for all the best in golf, and The Challenge is another significant step in that direction.
“On October 21, fans will be able to see a totally new competition join the golf calendar, supporting some fantastic charities and showcasing the very best golf has to offer in the most fun, exhilarating and unpredictable way.”
Golf fans around the world can watch the inaugural event live and on demand for free* exclusively on Discovery’s GolfTV, by registering for the service. It will be produced in Japanese and English, and covered by a stellar line-up of leading presenters, commentators and on-course reporters.
In the United States., The Challenge: Japan Skins can be viewed live on Golf Channel starting at 11 p.m. EDT/8 p.m. PDT on October 20.
Looking ahead to the event, Woods said: “After discussing The Challenge with Discovery and GolfTV, I wanted to be a part of it. I haven’t been back to Japan since 2006 and the golf fans there are some of the best in the world. It’s a unique format and a top field with Rory, Jason and Hideki. I can’t wait to play against them on a global stage.
“I haven’t played a skins format in quite some time, so it will be fun to try something a little different and add a few strategic elements as we compete. There has already been some friendly banter between us and that will continue until we get to the first tee.”
*Due to existing rights agreements in the UK and Ireland, fans will be required to subscribe to watch The Challenge. Passes start at £4.99/month.
