Jack Nicklaus and son Gary headline a Hall of Fame Field at the 2015 PNC Father/Son Challenge - Nicklaus Companies

Jack Nicklaus and son Gary headline a Hall of Fame Field at the 2015 PNC Father/Son Challenge

Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack II
Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack II

Jack Nicklaus and 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.
Nicklaus, who will play in his 14th PNC Father/Son Challenge this year, teams with Gary for the seventh time. TV coverage of Friday’s Pro-Am is Friday on Golf Channel from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, the event airs live on golf channel from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on NBC from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday’s final round will air on NBC from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets start at $15.

“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 at TwinEagles in Naples, Fla., on the Talon Course codesigned by Jack and son Jack II, president of Nicklaus Design.

Jack and Gary Nicklaus will be joined in the field by defending champions Bernhard and Jason Langer and a field of greats who have amassed 350 PGA TOUR victories and 64 major championships. Nicklaus’ illustrious record includes 73 PGA TOUR victories and a record 18 major championships. Earlier this year, Langer set a Champions Tour record by winning his third Charles Schwab Cup trophy on the Nicklaus-designed Cochise Course at Desert Mountain.

Current U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III will have the company of nine former Ryder Cup captains in the Father/Son field. Nicklaus (1983 and ’87), Nick Faldo (2008), Raymond Floyd (1989), Bernhard Langer (2004), Tom Lehman (2006), Dave Stockton (1991), Curtis Strange (2002), Lee Trevino (1985) and Lanny Wadkins (1995) have served as captains of the U.S. or European Ryder Cup teams.
The family-oriented event, held for 15 years from 1995 to 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 cofounded 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.

In addition to Team Nicklaus, past winners and legends of the game also competing include Larry Nelson (2004, 2007-08), Hale Irwin (2003), and Floyd (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001).
2015 PNC Father/Son Challenge Field (bold denotes World Golf Hall of Fame member)

  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.
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.
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

More News

January 22, 2024

Boxto and Nicklaus Companies Form New Multi-Year Licensing Relationship

Read More
Iconic Vice Golf + Nicklaus Brands Team Up in Legendary Collaboration

October 17, 2023

Iconic Vice Golf + Nicklaus Brands Team Up in Legendary Collaboration

Read More

June 29, 2023

Nicklaus Companies and Hyperscapes Golf Club Team up to Create First Members-Only Metaverse Golf Club

Read More