Golf is usually a lonely sport. You’re out there grinding against the course, your own head, and a field of a hundred other guys trying to take your paycheck. But once a year, the vibe shifts. The PNC Championship, or what most of us still instinctively call the father son golf tournament pga tour, turns the most cutthroat players in history into nervous, gushing parents.
It’s the only time you’ll see Tiger Woods looking more stressed about a 15-year-old’s lag putt than his own birdie chance.
Honestly, the "Father-Son" moniker is a bit of a legacy name now. The tournament has evolved. You’ve got daughters like Nelly Korda playing with their dads, and legends like Annika Sörenstam teeing it up with her son, Will McGee. It’s basically a massive family reunion with a million-dollar purse and some of the best ball-striking you’ll ever see.
The Magic of the Scramble Format
Most PGA Tour events are stroke play. Every mistake is yours to own. The father son golf tournament pga tour uses a two-man scramble format. Both players tee off, they pick the best ball, and both play from there. Repeat until the ball is in the cup.
This format is the great equalizer. It allows a 67-year-old Bernhard Langer to remain absolutely lethal because he’s pairing his legendary course management with his son Jason’s youthful distance. In 2025, we saw Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron absolutely tear the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club apart. They didn't just win; they posted a staggering 33-under par.
That’s 111 strokes over 36 holes.
Think about that for a second. That is "video game on easy mode" scoring. Cameron Kuchar, who is a serious talent in his own right, was bombing drives that allowed Matt to hunt pins. It’s a specific kind of synergy you don't see anywhere else in professional sports.
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Why Tiger and Charlie Woods Rule the Week
Let’s be real. The ratings for this event skyrocketed the moment Charlie Woods stepped onto the range in 2020.
The resemblance is eerie. The club twirl. The way they both fix their hats. The "Tiger-isms" that Charlie has naturally inherited make for incredible television. But in 2024, they actually came heartbreakingly close to winning the whole thing. They ended up in a playoff against the Langers after both teams finished at 28-under.
Charlie actually holed out for an ace during the first round of the 2024 event. The kid was 15. Can you imagine the pressure of making a hole-in-one with your dad—the greatest to ever do it—watching with a gallery of thousands?
Tiger missed the 2025 edition due to his ongoing recovery from back surgery. It was a bummer for the fans, but Tiger was pretty vocal about why he sat out. He didn’t want to take a spot from another family if he couldn’t actually compete. He wanted someone else to have that "memory-making" opportunity. That's the soul of the father son golf tournament pga tour right there.
Eligibility: Not Just Anyone Can Play
You can't just be a good golfer and show up. The entry requirements for the pro side are incredibly strict. You must have won either a Major Championship (The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open, or PGA Championship) or The Players Championship.
That’s it. That’s the list.
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This ensures the field is always packed with Hall of Famers. You’ll see Lee Trevino—who has played in every single iteration of this event—trading jokes with John Daly. You’ll see Vijay Singh and his son Qass, who are perennial threats, consistently lurking near the top of the leaderboard.
The amateur partner (the son, daughter, or parent) cannot be a touring professional at the time of the event. This keeps the "parent-child" dynamic authentic. It’s not two pros teaming up; it’s a pro helping their kid navigate the nerves of a televised event.
A Quick Look at Recent Dominance
| Year | Winners | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Matt & Cameron Kuchar | -33 |
| 2024 | Bernhard & Jason Langer | -28 (Playoff) |
| 2023 | Bernhard & Jason Langer | -25 |
| 2022 | Vijay & Qass Singh | -26 |
| 2021 | John Daly & John Daly II | -27 |
Bernhard Langer is basically the final boss of this tournament. He’s won it five times with two different sons (Stefan and Jason). The man is 68 years old and still plays better golf than 99% of the planet.
What Most People Get Wrong About the PNC
Some critics call it an "exhibition" or "hit-and-giggle" golf. While the atmosphere is certainly lighter than a Sunday at Augusta, don't let the smiles fool you. These guys are winners. They didn't get 15 majors or a green jacket by not being competitive.
When John Daly II (Little John) is standing over a putt to beat Tiger Woods, you’d better believe his heart is racing. And you'd better believe Big John is coaching him through every break in the green.
The "hit-and-giggle" part usually ends around the 10th hole on Sunday. That's when the "Willie Park Trophy" starts looking really good. The trophy itself is a replica of the original championship belt from the early days of the British Open—a nod to the father-son duo of Willie Park Sr. and Jr.
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The Logistics: If You’re Planning to Go
If you want to see the father son golf tournament pga tour in person, you have to head to Orlando in December. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club is the permanent home.
The spectator experience is way different from a standard PGA Tour stop. It's smaller. It’s more intimate. You can actually get close enough to hear the banter between the players.
- Autographs: Don’t bother trying on the course. They have a strict "no autograph" rule during play. There’s a specific "Kids Autograph Zone" by the range. That’s your best bet.
- Seating: There are bleachers on the 1st tee and 18th green, but the move is to walk with a group. Since the field is small (only 20 teams), you can easily follow your favorite duo for all 18 holes.
- Cameras: Leave the big DSLR at home. They’re super strict about mobile phone cameras too—usually, it’s a "no photos" policy from Thursday through Sunday to keep the players focused.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Players
If you're watching from home or inspired to play your own family scramble, keep these things in mind.
First, the scramble format is all about "ham-and-egging" it. If the amateur hits a safe shot in the fairway, the pro can go aggressive. If the pro sticks it to five feet, the amateur can try to ram their putt in the back of the hole without fear.
Second, pay attention to the equipment. You’ll see the pros using the latest tech, but often their kids are using customized setups. For example, Charlie Woods uses a lot of TaylorMade gear that’s specifically weighted for his swing speed, which has increased massively as he's hit his mid-teens.
Finally, remember the "Senior" factor. This tournament proves that in golf, touch and experience often trump raw power. Watching Lee Trevino chip is a masterclass. He might not outdrive the young kids, but he'll out-scramble them every day of the week.
The PNC Championship isn't just a tournament; it's a bridge between generations. Whether it’s the Kuchars setting records or the Woods family chasing their first win, the event reminds us why we started playing this frustrating, beautiful game in the first place—to spend time with the people who taught us how to swing.
To keep up with the field for the next event, check the official PGA Tour Champions portal in late October when the first wave of invitations is typically sent out.