Nicklaus

KAANAPALI — Kaanapali Golf Resort’s Royal Kaanapali Course, managed by Billy Casper Golf, will host the 23rd Wendy’s Champions Skins Game this weekend, Jan. 16-17, with golf legends competing for a $770,000 purse.

Fred Couples will make his Champions Tour and Skins Game debut alongside tournament mainstays Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Fuzzy Zoeller, Loren Roberts, Ben Crenshaw and Nick Price.

For the fifth consecutive year, players will compete in the alternate-shot, team event, ensuring memorable shot-making and tee-to-green excitement over two days and 18 holes. 

The event will be taped and televised on ESPN on Feb. 27-28.

Free and open to the public, the Skins Game will kickoff at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16 and 17. Saturday’s play will be followed by a free junior clinic at the driving range hosted by Zoeller and Crenshaw.

This is the third consecutive year the tournament will be played at Kaanapali. 

“Kaanapali is ecstatic to welcome the Champions Tour to our golf course,” said Ed Kageyama, PGA general manager of Kaanapali Golf Resort. 

“This incredible group of players will undoubtedly provide a wonderful show of skill, charisma and camaraderie.”

Zoeller and Crenshaw return to Royal Kaanapali to defend their title against 2007 champions Nicklaus and Watson.    

Couples will partner with Price (also competing in his first Champions Skins Game), while Roberts teams with Player to round out the formidable field.

Each hole is a tournament within itself, as prize money carries over if no player wins a hole outright. The total purse is broken down to $30,000 for each of the first six holes, $40,000 for each of the middle six holes, $50,000 for holes 13 through 17 and $100,000 for No. 18.

For more information on the Wendy’s Champions Skins Game, visit www.kaanapaliresort.com or call 661-3271. Free parking is available both days at Whalers Village located across from the golf course.

For information on Kaanapali Golf Resort, visit www.kaanapaligolfresort.com or call 661-3691.