Defending Champion, 2015 Charles Schwab Cup winner Bernhard Langer and son Jason will aim to repeat as champions; 10 Ryder Cup Captains, including current U.S. Captain Davis Love III, set to play
(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Jack Nicklaus and his son, Gary, will headline a field full of World Golf Hall of Fame members, golf legends and their children when the PNC Father/Son Challenge tees off for the 18th time, Dec. 10-13, 2015, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes in Fla.
They will be joined by defending champions Bernhard and Jason Langer and a field of greats who have amassed 350 PGA TOUR victories and 64 major championships. On Sunday, Nov. 8, Langer set a Champions Tour record winning his third Charles Schwab Cup trophy.
Current U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III is one of 10 Ryder Cup captains who will compete in the PNC Father/Son Challenge. Nick Faldo (’08), Raymond Floyd (’89), Bernhard Langer (’04), Tom Lehman (’06), Nicklaus (’83 and ’87), Dave Stockton (’91), Curtis Strange (’02), Lee Trevino (’85) and Lanny Wadkins (’95) have also served as captains of Ryder Cup teams.
“The PNC Father/Son is always a favorite time of the year for me,” said Jack Nicklaus. “Although I don’t play much golf any more, I look forward to every opportunity to play golf with my family. To do so in a competitive, yet fun environment, just underlines how special it is. I will be riding the broad shoulders of my son and we’ll just see how we do. One thing I know for certain is we will have a blast.”
The duo won the Father/Son Challenge in 1999.
The family-oriented event, held for 15 years from 1995-2008, made a return in 2012 with new title sponsor, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
“We are pleased to welcome a field full of golf’s legends and their children to the PNC Father/Son Challenge,” said Alastair Johnston, vice chairman of IMG, which co-founded and produces the event with NBC Sports. “Some of our legends have retired from regular tournament golf, while others are still actively competing around the globe. In all cases, they are linked by great success on the golf course and great joy in fatherhood. Our thanks goes to PNC and our local sponsors for once again helping us celebrate family.”
Last year, World Golf Hall Fame member Bernhard Langer and his 14-year-old son, Jason, won the PNC Father/Son Challenge. Langer, a two-time Masters winner, and Jason shot 62-59=121 (-23) to win the tournament by two shots over Davis and Davis (Dru) Love IV.
With the win, Jason Langer became the youngest son to win the PNC Father/Son Challenge in 17 editions of the event. Jason’s brother Stefan held the record for youngest winner as a 15-year-old champion with Bernhard in 2005. Langer won back-to-back years in 2005-06.
Additional past winners and legends of the game also competing include Larry Nelson (2004, 2007-08), Hale Irwin (2003), Floyd (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001) and Nicklaus (1999).
Television coverage of the PNC Father/Son Challenge will air Saturday, Dec. 12 on Golf Channel from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET and on NBC from 4-6 p.m. ET on and Sunday, Dec. 13 on Golf Channel from 2-3 p.m. ET and on NBC from 3-6 p.m. ET.
Golf Channel also will air a Pro-Am Special on Friday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. ET. Golf Channel and NBC’s broadcast team will be comprised of Steve Sands and Gary Koch in the broadcast booth, joined by Peter Jacobsen from an on-course tower and Roger Maltbie and Notah Begay III reporting from the course. Jimmy Roberts will conduct post-round interviews and deliver his signature essays.
2015 PNC Father/Son Challenge Field (bold denotes WGHOF)
1. Stewart Cink/Connor Cink
2. Steve Elkington/Sam Elkington
3. Nick Faldo/Matthew Faldo
4. Raymond Floyd/Raymond Floyd Jr.
5. Fred Funk/Taylor Funk
6. Hale Irwin/Steve Irwin
7. Lee Janzen/Connor Janzen
8. Bernhard Langer/Jason Langer
9. Tom Lehman/Thomas Lehman
10. Davis Love III/Dru Love (Davis Love IV)
11. Larry Nelson/Drew Nelson
12. Jack Nicklaus/Gary Nicklaus
13. Mark O’Meara/Shaun O’Meara
14. Nick Price/Greg Price
15. Dave Stockton/Dave Stockton Jr.
16. Curtis Strange/Tom Strange
17. Vijay Singh/Qass Singh
18. Lee Trevino/Daniel Trevino
19. Lanny Wadkins/Tucker Wadkins
20. Fuzzy Zoeller/Gretchen Zoeller
Over the 17 years of the tournament, 23 World Golf Hall of Fame Members have played in the championship, averaging 67 percent of the professional field each year.
“As a co-founder of the Father/Son Challenge, NBC is extremely proud to showcase the game’s greatest players and the camaraderie with their children through the game of golf,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports Group. “Through the collective efforts of our partners at PNC Bank, The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando Grande Lakes and IMG, fans nationwide can share in the bond these players have with their children in one of the most special events in golf.”
To qualify for the PNC Father/Son Challenge, participants must have won either a major championship or THE PLAYERS during their career. The professional’s partner must not currently hold a Tour card, and while the majority of partners in the history of the event have been the sons of the golf legends, the family-themed tournament has seen daughters and grandsons participate over the years. In one poignant exception in 2008, a close family friend also participated when Payne Stewart’s son, Aaron, teamed up with Paul Azinger, Stewart’s long-time friend.
The 20-team field competes in a scramble format over 36 holes for the $1,085,000 prize purse and the Willie Park trophy, named after Willie Park, and his son Willie Park Jr., who combined to win the British Open five times.
Tickets are now on sale, priced at $15 per day or $45 for a full tournament pass (four days), by visiting www.pncfathersonchallenge.com or by calling 844-434-3925. Active military and children age 15 years and younger receive complimentary admission with an accompanying adult.
Past Champions of the Father/Son Challenge
1995 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr.
1996 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr.
1997 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr.
1998 – Bob Charles and David Charles
1999 – Jack Nicklaus and Gary Nicklaus
2000 – Raymond Floyd and Robert Floyd
2001 – Raymond Floyd and Robert Floyd
2002 – Craig Stadler and Kevin Stadler
2003 – Hale Irwin and Steve Irwin
2004 – Larry Nelson and Drew Nelson
2005 – Bernhard Langer and Stefan Langer
2006 – Bernhard Langer and Stefan Langer
2007 – Larry Nelson and Josh Nelson
2008 – Larry Nelson and Drew Nelson
2012 – Davis Love III and Davis “Dru” Love IV
2013 – Stewart Cink and Connor Cink
2014 – Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer
The PNC Father/Son Challenge is operated in partnership by IMG and NBC Sports.
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