The PNC Father/Son Challenge was an annual event from 1995 through 2008, but lost its sponsor and was forced to take a four-year hiatus until its return with new sponsor PNC Financial Services in 2012.
Davis and his son Dru Love won the 2012 PNC Father/Son Challenge and Stewart and Connor Cink are the defending champions.
Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack Nicklaus II are teamed for the event this year, but neither has an expectation of winning. Golf fans will never forget the sight of Jack II carrying the bag for his father as he won the 1986 Masters.
“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 five-some, 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 be the Golden Bear’s partner last year, but a last-minute illness derailed his plans and sibling Gary filled in for him.
“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.”
Fourteen World Golf Hall of Fame members that account for 59 major championship victories and 452 worldwide wins will be in the field with their offspring.
Along with the Nicklaus’, Stewart Cink, Steve Elkington, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Lee Janzen, Tom Lehman, Davis Love, Sandy Lyle, Johnny Miller, Larry Nelson, Mark O’Meara, Nick Price, Dave Stockton, Curtis Strange, Vijay Singh, Lee Trevino, and Lanny Wadkins round out the field of 20 teams.
Although it’s called the PNC Father/Son Challenge, Bernhard Langer will team with his daughter, Christina to do battle with the rest of the field.
Golf Channel will air the first hour of coverage, 2:00-3:00 PM ET on both Saturday, December 12, and Sunday, December 13. NBC will handle most of the broadcasting chores, 3:00-6:00 PM ET, on both days.