Jack Nicklaus to play with his grandson in the Fathers and Sons Tournament

As the PGA Tour of America’s regular season winds down for its year-end break , the off weeks are rounded out with a series of exhibition-type tournaments and novelty formats. One of the most popular for both players and spectators is the PNC Father/Son Challenge at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando on December 16 and 17.

The 20 teams participating in this new edition include players who total 499 worldwide victories and 60 majors, and there are eleven members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

In what will be his sixteenth appearance in the PNC Father/Son Challenge, Jack Nicklaus will play paired with his 15-year-old grandson Gary “GT” Nicklaus, Jr. The only other competitor to play alongside either of his grandsons was Arnold Palmer, joined by Sam Saunders (2003-08) and Will Wears (2012).

“It’s a very special thing to have the opportunity to play with my grandson GT,” Nicklaus said. “I fondly remember my friend Arnold when he played the tournament with his grandsons Sam and Will, and how meaningful it was to him. It has been special for me to play in this competition with all my sons, and now all of a sudden I get to play with a grandson. I feel very fortunate.

“G.T. is a big kid and has the potential to be a very talented player. He’s already a good player, and his game should only get better as time goes on. So only time will tell if he will be and wants to be a really good player. For now, I just want him to enjoy this experience as much as I will enjoy it. Oh, and guess whose will be the tee shot we’ll be playing most of the time.”

Justin Leonard will also break new ground in this tournament by becoming the first competitor to play with his father, Larry. “To be able to share an experience like this with him, knowing that he had an integral part in my development, will be very special,” Leonard said.

To qualify for the PNC Father/Son Challenge players must have won a Grande or The Players Championship, and their partner must not hold a PGA Tour card.

The winning team of the two-day, 36-hole tournament receives the Willie Park Trophy, in memory of father and son Open British Open champions Willie Park Sr. and Willie Park Jr. Last year, David Duval and stepson Nick Karavites won by one stroke over teams Cink, Goosen and Funk.

Participants PNC Father/Son Challenge

Stewart Cink/Reagan Cink

John Daly/Little John Daly

David Duval/Nick Karavites

Nick Faldo/Matthew Faldo

Retief Goosen/Leo Goosen

Padraig Harrington/Paddy Harrington

Lee Janzen/Connor Janzen

Tom Kite/David Kite

Bernhard Langer/Jason Langer

Tom Lehman/Thomas Lehman

Justin Leonard/Larry Leonard (dad)