Irwins Trump Pair of Jacks by One at Father/Son Challenge

Jack (background) and Jack II both had eagle putts on the final hole but couldn't force a playoff. (Courtesy of Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

CHAMPIONS GATE, Fla. - After finishing in second place three times, including each of the last two years, Hale and Steve Irwin held off Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack Nicklaus II by one stroke to win the ninth Office Depot Father-Son Challenge on the International Course at ChampionsGate Golf Resort.

The Irwins birdied two of the last three holes in the scramble format to post a 21-under-par 123 total, but had to wait until both members of the Nicklaus team missed eagle opportunities at the last hole to secure their victory.

"After coming so close several times, we are very happy to finally win this," Irwin said afterward. "This event goes beyond a competition. It's an extended family affair. We've really enjoyed seeing these kids grow up into fine young men."

Both Nicklaus and his son thought they had made their 15-foot eagle putts on the final hole.

"Jackie's putt looked like it was going in until right at the end. Mine, a foot from the hole, was dead center but then it dove sharply to the right," Nicklaus said. "It was fun to be right in the hunt at the end. I was actually surprised to play as well as I did in this event, given that I haven't played much golf lately."

The Irwins earned a $200,000 first-place check and also received the Willie Park Trophy, replica belts named in honor of the winner of the first British Open.

Jack Nicklaus joins prestigious panel of industry experts in Orlando to discuss state of game, then takes his game and partner, son Jack II, down the street for Office Depot Father/Son Challenge

Orlando has become home to golf shots and parting shots this week, with Jack Nicklaus dishing out his fair share of both. The Golden Bear visited The Golf Channel studios Thursday for the taping of "The State of The Game," a 90-minute special presented by The Royal Bank of Scotland that featured Nicklaus and 11 other experts from the golf industry in a spirited discussion of current and hot topics within the game. The special first airs Friday at 8 p.m. Jack then joined oldest son Jack II Saturday and Sunday in The Office Depot Father/Son Challenge.

The Royal Bank of Scotland presents "The State of The Game"

The Royal Bank of Scotland and The Golf Channel team to bring viewers a groundbreaking special when "The State Of The Game" premieres Friday at 8:00 p.m. Adam Barr will host the 90-minute discussion with special guest, Jack Nicklaus, and a panel of some of golf's most influential personalities to tackle topics such as technology impact on golf's present and future, whether women should be playing on the same tours as men, and the overall temperature and outlook for the game of golf.

The spirited and lively debate, structured in a town hall-meeting format, included representatives from all facets of the game. The panel included: Mark King, president and CEO of Taylor Made-adidas; LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw; Frank Thomas, former technical director for the USGA; John Solheim, president of PING; Greg Hopkins, president of Cleveland Golf; Ruffin Beckwith, World Golf Foundation senior vice president. GolfWorld Editor-in-Chief Geoff Russell; course designer Tom Fazio; 11-time PGA Tour winner John Cook; Nike Golf's Dave Pillsbury; and Suzy Whaley, a former Nicklaus-Flick instructor who qualified earlier this year for the PGA Tour's Greater Hartford Open.

The show was broken up into three sections: "Golf's Place in Pop and Corporate Culture," "Performance," and "Participation in The Game." The show also included debates that ranged from the recent outcome of The Presidents Cup to 13-year-old Michelle Wie's impact on professional golf and when is young too young.

Special encore presentations will air on Monday, December 8 at 12:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 9 at 12:30 p.m., and Saturday, December 13 at 2:00 p.m. All times are Eastern.

Pair of Jacks Highlight Office Depot Father/Son Challenge

Orlando has long been known as a family destination. This weekend, it will be home to several golfing families when the Office Depot Father/Son Challenge makes its debut at ChampionsGate Resort in Orlando. Jack and Jack Nicklaus II highlight a field of 16 teams in the ninth playing of this very popular made-for-TV event. This will be the third year that Jack and Jack II will be competing in the 36-hole tournament. Jack and Gary Nicklaus won the event in 1999 just prior to Gary's first year on the PGA Tour, when the Nicklauses outdueled Raymond and Floyd in a sudden-death playoff.

"There is little I enjoy more than playing golf with my sons," Jack Nicklaus said, "and when you can do it in a competitive environment, it becomes that much more special."

There will be 16 father-son tandems competing for a total purse of $1 million and the prestigious Willie Park Trophy. Among some of the teams are defending champions Craig and Kevin Stadler; five-time winner Raymond Floyd and son Raymond Jr.; Seve and Javier Ballesteros; Bernhard and Stefan Langer; Hale and Steve Irwin; Tom and David Kite; Larry and Josh Nelson; Jerry and Wesley Pate; Lee and Tony Trevino; Tom and Michael Watson; Mark and Shaun O'Meara; Johnny and Scott Miller; Arnold Palmer and grandson Sam Saunders; and the debut of Vijay Singh and his 13-year-old son Qass, who is making his first tournament appearance ever.

"This could be the greatest tournament to come down the pike in a long, long time," said Lee Trevino, who has played with his sons, Tony Lee and Rick in alternating years. "I think a lot of people were curious about how well our sons could play. This gave our sons a chance to see what kind of pressure their fathers have been facing for 20 years and more. I was very proud of the way my sons handled the pressure."

NBC Sports will broadcast the Office Depot Father/Son Challenge on Saturday from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. (ET).