As the U.S. PGA Tour official season winds down for its end-of-year break, the free weeks are taken up with a series of exhibition-style and novel-format events. One of the most popular – for both players and spectators – is the PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando in Grande Lakes on 16-17 December.

This year’s 20-team field includes players with 499 worldwide wins and 60 major championships, and 11 World Golf Hall of Fame members.

Playing in his 16th PNC Father/Son Challenge, Jack Nicklaus will be paired with his 15-year-old grandson Gary “G.T.” Nicklaus, Jr. The only other competitor to play alongside a grandson was Arnold Palmer, who was joined by both Sam Saunders (2003-08) and Will Wears (2012). 

"It is pretty special to have the opportunity to play with my grandson, G.T.,” said Nicklaus. “I remember fondly watching my friend Arnold when he played the Father/Son with his grandsons, Sam and then Will, and how meaningful it was for him. It’s been special for me to play in the Father/Son with all of my boys, and now all of a sudden I am able to play with a grandson. I feel very fortunate.

“G.T. is a big kid and has the potential to be a very talented player. He is already a nice player, and his game should only get better as time goes on. So only time will tell whether he will be and wants to be a really good player. For now, I just want him to enjoy this experience, just as I will enjoy it. Oh, and guess whose tee shot we’ll be playing most of the time?"

Justin Leonard will also break new ground by becoming the first competitor to play with his father, Larry. “To be able to share an experience like this with him, knowing that he had an integral part in my development, will make it special,” said Leonard.

To qualify for the PNC Father/Son Challenge, players must have won a major championship or The Players Championship, and their partner must not hold a PGA Tour card.

The winning team of the two-day, 36-hole scramble receives the Willie Park Trophy, in memory of the father and son British Open champions Willie Park Sr. and Willie Park Jr. Last year, David Duval and his stepson Nick Karavites won by one shot over Teams Cink, Goosen and Funk.

 

2017 PNC Father/Son Challenge Field

 

Stewart Cink/Reagan Cink John Daly/Little John Daly David Duval/Nick Karavites Nick Faldo/Matthew Faldo Retief Goosen/Leo Goosen Padraig Harrington/Paddy HarringtonLee Janzen/Connor JanzenTom Kite/David KiteBernhard Langer/Jason LangerTom Lehman/Thomas LehmanJustin Leonard/Larry Leonard (dad)Jack Nicklaus/Gary Nicklaus, Jr. Greg Norman/Greg Norman, Jr. Mark O’Meara/Shaun O’Meara Jerry Pate/Wesley Pate Nick Price/Greg Price Vijay Singh/Qass SinghCurtis Strange/Tom Strange Lee Trevino/Daniel Trevino Lanny Wadkins/Travis Wadkins 

 

Past Champions

 

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

2015 – Lanny Wadkins and Tucker Wadkins 

2016 – David Duval and Nick Karavites