It might not be the Masters, but the golf world will surely love to see Tiger Woods back on the course this weekend at the PNC Championship.
Woods will tee it up alongside his son, Charlie, on Saturday and Sunday at the Grande Lakes Orlando course at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. The duo finished seventh among 20 pairs last year, when Justin Thomas and his father took home the top prize.
The tournament is a two-day event on Saturday and Sunday, but there will be a Pro Am on Friday that features some of the pairs that will be in the tournament, as well as other unique duos. Charlie will sit out that, as his dad will play with Matt Kuchar.
How does one get into this field? The only qualification is that either member of the team has to have a win in a major championship or THE PLAYERS in their career. Nelly Korda has won the Women's PGA Championship, which qualifies her.
Format
The two-day tournament is strictly a scramble. What does that mean? Both players will hit a tee shot and the team will choose the better of the two shots to play next. They will each hit a shot from the preferred shot and continue that format until the hole is complete.
The format and length of the tournament make this ideal for Tiger's return to “competitive” golf. Last year, Team Woods took just 124 strokes, which is much better compared to the 270 or so he might hit on a regular four-day PGA TOUR event.
When To Watch (all times ET)
Friday, Dec. 17
- Golf Channel: 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 18
- Golf Channel 1:30-2:30 p.m.
- NBC: 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 19
- Golf Channel: 12-1 p.m.
- NBC: 1-4:30 p.m.
Can I Bet on the PNC Championship?
Legal sportsbooks are not offering odds on the tournament. It is not a PGA TOUR event, there's a child playing and given the lack of knowledge about a large portion of the field, it's good they're sitting it out.
The Field
The majority of the field is made up of father-son pairs, although there are a few exceptions.
Korda, who won the gold medal at last summer's Tokyo Olympics, will pair with her father, Petr.
Bubba Watson will be playing with his father-in-law, Wayne Ball.
Gary Player will be playing with grandson Jordan after playing last year with another of his grandchildren, James.
- Rich & Michael Beem
- Stewart & Reagan Cink
- John & Little John Daly
- David & Brady Duval
- Nick & Matthew Faldo
- Jim & Tanner Furyk
- Padraig & Paddy Harrington
- Nelly & Petr Korda
- Matt & Cameron Kuchar
- Tom & Sean Lehman
- Mark & Shaun O’Meara
- Gary & Jordan Player
- Nick & Greg Price
- Henrik & Karl Stenson
- Justin & Mike Thomas
- Lee & Daniel Trevino
- Bubba Watson & Wayne Ball
- Tom & Michael Watson
- Vijay & Qass Singh
- Tiger & Charlie Woods
Tee Times
Like last year, Team Thomas has been paired with Team Woods for Round 1. Tiger has spoken very highly of Justin’s relationship with Charlie, describing him as “like a brother” to the 12-year-old.
Here are the rest of the Saturday pairings:
| Time | Pair 1 | Pair 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30 a.m. | Team Beam | Team Faldo |
| 10:42 a.m. | Team Price | Team Cink |
| 10:54 a.m. | Team Singh | Team Player |
| 11:06 a.m. | Team Tom Watson | Team Harrington |
| 11:18 a.m. | Team Furyk | Team Lehman |
| 11:30 a.m. | Team O'Meara | Team Duval |
| 11:42 a.m. | Team Bubba Watson | Team Trevino |
| 11:54 a.m. | Team Kuchar | Team Stenson |
| 12:06 p.m. | Team Korda | Team Daly |
| 12:18 p.m. | Team Thomas | Team Woods |
