Jack and Jack II team in Father/Son Challenge

Deep Field Competes in Scramble Event for $1 Million Purse

After missing last year's event due to back surgery, Jack reunites with eldest son Jack II for the fourth time. Photo by Jim Mandeville.

ORLANDO - Jack Nicklaus will team with eldest son Jack II for the 11th annual MBNA WorldPoints Father/Son Challenge this weekend at ChampionsGate Golf Resort outside Orlando. NBC will televise the event on a tape-delay basis Saturday from 4-6 p.m. ET and on Sunday from 3-6 p.m. ET.

The tournament marks the fourth time Jack will pair with son Jack II to compete against other champions such as Larry Nelson (2004 winner), Raymond Floyd (five-time Father/Son winner), Arnold Palmer, Vijay Singh, Lee Trevino, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer, Hale Irwin, Johnny Miller, Mark O'Meara, Bob Charles, Craig Stadler and Curtis Strange in the 16-team field. The teams will play for the prestigious Willie Park Trophy replica belts named in honor of the winner of the first British Open in 1860, in addition to a $1 million purse that includes $200,000 to the winning team. In order to be eligible, all of the fathers must have won a major championship on the PGA Tour.

One of the more interesting teams is Fuzzy Zoeller and daughter Gretchen, who becomes the first female entry in the event's history. She will play from the same tees as the men, but, according to Dave Lobeck, Fuzzy's manager, "Gretchen can move it out there. She's one of the longer female players I have ever seen, and can knock it out there 260 to 270 off the tee."

Jack and Gary Nicklaus won the tournament in 1999, after a three-hole sudden death playoff with Raymond Floyd and Raymond Jr. It is a tournament that according to Jack Nicklaus is "special to win and especially special to win with your son." Jack and Jack II finished second in 2003, tied for fifth in 2000 and tied for eighth in 2002.

"It's always special to spend time with our children, and playing with them in the tournament is one of the highlights of the year for us," Jack said. "It's also a chance to get together between the holidays with the families of the players we have competed against for most of our careers. The friendships run deep."

"This unique format and a field that includes some of the greatest names in golf provides for compelling and entertaining television," NBC Sports Senior VP Jon Miller said. "It's an event that players and fans look forward to for the entire year."

Tournament activities begin with a two-day pro-am on Thursday and Friday. The 36-hole event, played under a scramble format, is Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's first tee time is 8:30 a.m., but again, NBC's coverage is in the afternoon.

To purchase tickets, and for additional ticket information, visit the tournament website at www.worldpointsfatherson.com, or call the MBNA WorldPoints Father/Son Challenge tournament office at the toll-free number, 866-871-6337.