Charles Schwab Cup winner Bernhard Langer and daughter, Christina, also set to play; Twenty-team field boasts 14 World Golf Hall of Fame members, 452 worldwide wins and 59 major championships
ORLANDO, Fla. (November 10, 2014) – Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack II, 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 17th time, Dec. 11-14, 2014, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes in Fla.
Nicklaus, who will play in his 12th PNC Father/Son Challenge this year, will be joined by Jack II for the seventh time. Charles Schwab Cup winner Bernhard Langer, who won five tournaments on the Champions Tour in 2014, will also return to the PNC Father/Son Challenge, with daughter, Christina. They will be joined by defending champions Stewart and Connor Cink, NBC Sports analyst Johnny Miller and son, Andy, and a field of greats who amassed 452 worldwide victories and 59 major championships.
“I cherish every opportunity I have to spend time with my children, whether it is golf, fishing, traveling together, or just getting together as a family for a Sunday dinner,” said Nicklaus. “To have the opportunity to get together on a golf course and in a competitive environment makes it even that much more special.
He continued, “People ask me all the time what my dream foursome would be, and I tell them it would have to be a fivesome, so I could get all four of my sons in there. I don’t play much golf any more, but whenever one of the boys wants to play, I will be there. They enjoy playing and because of that, I do, too. It’s a special time each year when we can play a little golf together, but more important, have a lot of fun together.”
Jack II was scheduled to play in the 2014 tournament, but had to withdraw due to health issues. He was replaced by his brother, Gary, who teamed up with The Golden Bear to tie for sixth.
“I don’t play golf anymore and Dad is 74 years old,” said Jack II, who serves as president of Nicklaus Design, “so, the likelihood of us being competitive isn’t really very high, but things could fall into place and we could play well. What it is really about is simply being out there with Dad-that’s the biggest thing. We’ll have family members and friends watching both of us. We’ll get to spend quality time together, whether it’s on the golf course, or eating dinner together in the evenings, or breakfast in the mornings prior to the rounds.
“It’s a bit of a flashback to when we used to watch Dad play in his competitive days,” said Nicklaus II. “Obviously, it’s slightly altered because it’s a different time in his career, but it’s still pretty neat to be out there on the golf course. It will be special to see the crowd show its appreciation for my father, and be able to experience that again.”
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. Cink and his son Connor hoisted the Willie Park trophy in 2013, and will return as defending champions this year alongside past winners and legends of the game including Larry Nelson (2004, 2007-08), Langer (2005-06), Hale Irwin (2003), Raymond Floyd (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001) and Nicklaus (1999). Miller, who last played with his son Scott in 2006, returns to the tournament after an eight-year hiatus.
Television coverage of the PNC Father/Son Challenge will air on Golf Channel from 2-3 p.m. ET and NBC from 3-6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14. Golf Channel also will air a Pro-Am Special on Friday, Dec. 12. 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.
2014 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/Robert Floyd
5. Hale Irwin/Steve Irwin
6. Lee Janzen/Connor Janzen
7. Bernhard Langer/Christina Langer
8. Tom Lehman/Thomas Lehman
9. Davis Love III/Davis (Dru) Love IV
10. Sandy Lyle/James Lyle
11. Johnny Miller/Andy Miller
12. Larry Nelson/Josh Nelson
13. Jack Nicklaus/Jack Nicklaus II
14. Mark O’Meara/Shaun O’Meara
15. Nick Price/Greg Price
16. Dave Stockton/Ron Stockton
17. Curtis Strange/Tom Strange
18. Vijay Singh/Qass Singh
19. Lee Trevino/Daniel Trevino
20. Lanny Wadkins/Tucker Wadkins
The 2014 field also boasts 452 victories across the PGA and European Tours, including 59 major championships, and 14 World Golf Hall of Fame members. Over the 16 years of the tournament, twenty-three World Golf Hall of Fame Members have played in the championship, averaging 68 percent of the professional field each year.
“We are pleased to once again welcome a strong field to the PNC Father/Son Challenge,” said Alastair Johnston, vice chairman of IMG, co-founder and producer of the event with NBC Sports. “Our tournament offers a unique look at the family bonds that so many of us associate with the game of golf and we are grateful to PNC and our local sponsors for making the Father/Son Challenge possible.”
“We are extremely proud of our heritage as co-founder of the Father/Son Challenge,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “Through the collective efforts of our partners at PNC Bank, Ritz Carlton and IMG, families nationwide can now share 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 in 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 Million 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 407-761-5763. 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
The PNC Father/Son Challenge is operated in partnership by IMG and NBC Sports.
About PNC
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (www.pnc.com) is one of the United States’ largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management.
About NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the sports assets of the two companies combined to form NBC Sports Group, which serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of a unique array of broadcast television, cable television, radio and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBCSN (NBC Sports Network), Golf Channel, 12 NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and all of their respective digital properties. NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, Churchill Downs, Premier League, MLS, Tour de France, French Open, Formula One, IndyCar and many more.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion and media operating in more than 30 countries around the world. IMG’s businesses include Events & Media, College, Golf, Tennis, Performance and IMG Academy, Fashion, Models, Clients, Consulting, Licensing, Joint Ventures, and creative management agency Art + Commerce. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, the world’s leading entertainment and media agency. Together, the companies offer an unparalleled client roster; world-class partnerships with sponsors, brands and broadcasters; and marquee assets across entertainment, events and fashion.
About Grande Lakes Orlando
Grande Lakes Orlando is a unique 500-acre resort with a luxury 582-room Ritz-Carlton and deluxe 1,000-room JW Marriott Hotels. In particular, the Grande Lakes Adventure Experiences program, which includes kayak and canoe eco-tours and a fishing school, reflects the resort’s natural surroundings. Grande Lakes also offers the culinary mastery of award-winning Chefs Norman Van Aken and Melissa Kelly, new total-wellness inspired treatment programs at The Ritz-Carlton Spa and Golf Digest Schools’ golf instruction. The estate is located 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport, five minutes from the Orange County Convention Center and minutes from the major theme parks.
Guests at both hotels can enjoy all the facilities and services at Grande Lakes Orlando, including the 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Greg Norman, the 40,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa offering a new rooftop eco-space, a wide selection of natural treatments, baths and hydrotherapies. For more information about Grande Lakes Orlando, visit www.grandelakes.com.
Contact:
Liz McCollum, BZA PR on behalf of PNC Father/Son Challenge, 813-421-0550, elizabethm@bzapr.com
Dana Gordon, BZA PR on behalf of PNC Father/Son Challenge, 856-397-2917, danag@bzapr.com
Mike Scanlan, IMG Golf, 216-436-3544, Mike.Scanlan@img.com
