Organisers of The Skins Game confirm JT's replacement

Shane Lowry has confirmed he will play in the next edition of The Skins Game after Justin Thomas was forced to withdraw. 

Multiple PGA Tour winner and two-time major champion Thomas, 32, was scheduled to take part in the golf exhibition match on 28 November. 

The Skins Game was first staged in 1983 and was always played on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Its initial run ended in 2008, with KJ Choi the winner.  

Thomas was supposed to tee it up with in-form Tommy Fleetwood, US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Xander Schauffele but will miss out after having back surgery. 

The event's organisers have now confirmed that 2019 Open champion Lowry, 38, will step in and link up with his Ryder Cup teammate Fleetwood.

Lowry teased his opponents ahead of the contest with a post on his personal Instagram, saying: "Euro or $ lads? I take either."

The 2025 edition of The Skins Game will be played a Panther National in Florida. It is a relatively new course that was opened two years ago. 

The aforementioned Thomas and Jack Nicklaus designed it. 

The new Skins Game format will have a similar format. 

A player wins the dollar amount for each hole, and it carries over if there is a tie. 

The difference this year will see a "reverse purse" in which all four players begin with $1m and their fortunes change on every hole won or lost. 

Coverage begins on 28 November at 9am on Prime. 

What happened to Justin Thomas?

Two-time major champ Thomas confirmed on 15 November that he will miss "some events in the beginning of 2026" after having back surgery similar to Tiger Woods. 

Thomas has not played since he was part of the US Ryder Cup team that were defeated by Europe at Bethpage Black in September.

He released a lengthy video explaining what happened, explaining that he has been experiencing some "nagging pain for a handful of months". 

"An MRI showed I had a disc problem that needed to be treated," he said. 

"I had a successful microdiscectomy performed... and have already been released from the hospital."

He added: "My next few weeks will be a lot of resting before the rehab process begins.

"I have a great team behind me who I fully trust to get me back to a better place than I was before.

"Before you ask, I'm not putting any tournament on the calendar or specific time for returning.

"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."

Will you be watching The Skins Game later this month?

Drop us a comment below.