Tiger Woods Returns to Action This Week

When Tiger Woods faced the media at the recent Hero World Challenge at Albany he was pessimistic about his chances of playing tournament golf anytime soon. So it may have surprised some when he announced that he would be playing with his son Charlie in this week’s PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton resort in Orlando.

But Woods, who is currently recovering from his latest back surgery, will be able to use a buggy, and it is only a 36-hole event played as a Texas scramble.

Make no mistake, this is a fun event with a field comprising 20 major champions teaming up with a member of their family and, as ever, the performance of Woods and Charlie will come under the microscope in an event they have never won.

On each hole, each player drives and the best drive is selected. Each player then plays a second shot from the spot where the selected drive lies, and the best second shot is selected. This process is repeated until the hole is completed.

For more than 20 years, the PNC Father Son Challenge provided an opportunity for professional golfers to play competitive golf alongside their children, showcasing the bonds and memories that are created on both sides of the ropes. 

In 2017, the transition of allowing the game’s younger champions to compete alongside their fathers began. And in 2019, women were invited to play for the first time, with Annika Sorenstam playing alongside her father.

Four years ago, the tournament changed its name to the PNC Championship to reflect what the event has become over the years and accurately represent the current field composition and stature. 

The legendary Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason, are defending champions. Langer has won this event five times, three times with Jason.

The Full Field

Tiger Woods & Charlie Woods (son)

Stewart Cink & Connor Cink (son)

Fred Couples & Hunter Hannemann (step-son)

John Daly & John Daly II (son)

David Duval & Brady Duval (son)

Nick Faldo & Matthew Faldo (son)

Trevor Immelman & Jacob Immelman (son)

Nelly Korda & Petr Korda (father)

Matt Kuchar & Carson Kuchar (son)

Bernhard Langer & Jason Langer (son)

Tom Lehman & Sean Lehman (son)

Justin Leonard & Luke Leonard (son)

Mark O’Meara & Shaun O’Meara (son)

Gary Player & Alexander Hall (grandson)

Nick Price & Greg Price (son)

Vijah Singh & Qass Singh (son)

Annika Sorenstam & Will McGee (son)

Steve Stricker & Izzi Stricker (daughter)

Lee Trevino & Daniel Trevino (son)

Padraig Harrington & Paddy Harrington (son)

The Course:

Designed by Greg Norman, Ritz Carlton features plenty of water hazards and tree-lined fairways. It is a par 72 that measures 7,066 yards.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2016 by David Duval and Nick Karavites, in 2017 by Angel Cabrera and Angel Cabrera Jr, in 2018 by Davis Love III and Dru Love, in 2019 and 2023 by Bernhard and Jason Langer, in 2020 by Justin and Mike Thomas, in 2021 by John Daly and John Daly II and in 2022 by Vijay and Qass Singh.

Prize Money:

Total prize money is $1,085,000, with the winners collecting $200,000.

How to Watch:

Saturday, December 21, Sky Sports Golf, 6pm; Sunday, December 22, Sky Sports Golf, 4.30pm.