Tag: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando

Annika Sorenstam’s son Will McGee once again steals show on Sunday at PNC Championship

On the 18th fairway Sunday, the 12-year-old said: “I don’t want this moment to end.”

ORLANDO — While Tiger Woods and son Charlie dominate many of the headlines at the PNC Championship, Will McGee once again won plenty of hearts. Walking down the 18th fairway on Sunday, the 12-year-old turned to his mother, Annika Sorenstam, and said,  “Slow down, Mommy, I don’t want this moment to end.”

No one loves the PNC more than young McGee, who doffed his cap for the crowd around the 18th green after hitting a beautiful bunker shot. He’d caught it thin out of another bunker on the last hole during Saturday’s round and wanted revenge.

McGee shed many tears on that final hole. When asked why he felt so emotional, McGee said, “Probably because I have to wait a year to do this again.”

McGee and his Hall of Fame mom shot 67 in the scramble format to finish in a share of 11th in the 20-team event. The duo will split $43,750 from the prize fund.

After beginning the week with an ace during a practice round at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club with his father, McGee then drained a lengthy eagle putt during Saturday’s first round.

2023 PNC Championship
Annika Sorenstam of Sweden poses for a photograph with her son Will McGee on the first tee during the final round of the 2023 PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. (Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images)

A bona fide golf lover, McGee was stoked to talk to Tiger Woods several times, noting that he was “super nice.” Justin Thomas even offered a tip on playing in windy conditions. It gusted over 30 mph during Sunday’s final round.

“He keeps telling me I need to weigh more,” said McGee, the youngest player in the field. “So he put some golf balls in my pocket so I don’t fly away.”

The game doesn’t get more wholesome than that.

Five things from the PNC Championship, including Charlie Woods’ electric chip-in and Izzi Stricker’s dream week

Here are five takeaways from a soggy but festive Sunday at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.

ORLANDO — Bernhard Langer and his son Jason entered the final round of the PNC Championship trailing by three strokes and wound up winning by two after a final-round 59.

“That’s just steamrolling people,” said runner-up David Duval.

The Langers finished at 25 under in the two-person scramble. For Bernhard, it’s his fifth title at the PNC – twice with his eldest son Stefan (2005 and 2006) and now three times with his youngest son, Jason (2014, 2019, 2023).

“Very special,” said Bernhard, who has competed in the PNC with all four of his children. “It’s always special whether you win or not, just being here is like the Olympics. They only take 20 teams and there’s probably 25 on the waiting list that would love to be here.”

2023 PNC Championship
Bernhard Langer and son, Jason Langer, celebrate winning the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on Dec. 17, 2023 in Orlando. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Rain and wind that gusted more than 30 mph couldn’t the dampen the spirits of teams at the family-focused event. And with Tiger Woods and son Charlie back for a fourth consecutive year, plenty of fans braved the weather to catch a glimpse.

Here are five takeaways from a soggy but festive Sunday at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club:

Bernhard Langer, son Jason make history with 2023 PNC Championship win

Langer is the second five-time winner of the annual family event.

For more than 20 years Raymond Floyd was the only five-time winner of the annual PNC Championship. That all changed on Sunday.

Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason, ran away with the 2023 family hit-and-giggle at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando after a white-hot day on the putting green. The father-son duo made birdie on their first seven holes of the day and shot an impressive 13-under 59 during Sunday’s final round to take the trophy at 25 under.

“Just it’s always special whether you win or not, just being here is like the Olympics. They only take 20 teams and there’s probably 25 on the waiting list that would love to be here,” Bernhard said after the round. “It’s always a wonderful thing to get an invitation to come and play here, and as you all know, I’ve got four kids, played with all four of them, and we have a lot of wonderful memories.

Floyd and Langer are now the only five-time winners of the event. Larry Nelson has three wins and Davis Love III has two. Langer won with his son, Stefan, in 2005 and 2006, and won with Jason in 2014, 2019 and now 2023. He also previously played with his daughter, Christina, in 2013 and 2016.

“It was a ton of fun. I said it earlier, but I don’t get to play as much golf anymore, and I don’t get to see my parents and my family quite as much anymore,” Jason added. “To be able to play golf as a family and in a beautiful spot and great competition and play a really good golf course, it’s amazing.”

David Duval and his son, Brady, finished second at 23 under, while defending champions Vijay and Qass Singh finished third at 22 under.

“This is by far the best week of the year, this is the week that you’re just hoping for that invite every single year,” said Brady. “I’m very thankful to have the invite and I’m thankful for everybody here. It was an absolute blast out there. If we got it a little closer on a few holes and gave ourselves a couple better chances, we would have had a pretty good chance at winning this year.

“It’s the best golfing week of the year,” David echoed. “You’re on pins and needles come — once August kind of rolls around, hoping to see that e-mail from Alastair with the invite. I think certainly with the majority of folks who play at our age, it’s the most coveted invite in golf, as well, and I think as you could argue, it’s the hardest field to get into.

“To be asked to come back and participate, it’s a dream come true every year it happens.”

Tiger and Charlie Woods finished T-5 at 19 under. Justin Thomas and his father, Mike, who won the event in 2020, finished T-13 at 14 under.

Team Langer earned $200,000 for the victory.

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2023 PNC Championship final round highlights from Orlando

Tiger and Charlie Woods, Will McGee and Annika Sorenstam stole the show on Sunday.

Golf’s silly season came to a close on Sunday as the annual family hit-and-giggle in Orlando wrapped play.

The 2023 PNC Championship, an unofficial event that features major champions and winners of the Players Championship paired with a family member for 36 holes, saw history made on Sunday. First-round leaders Matt Kuchar and his son, Cameron, were looking for their first win and sat three shots clear of four teams tied for second. One of those teams were the defending champions, Vijay and Qass Singh. Another were the eventual winners, Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason. With the victory, Langer tied Raymond Floyd for the most wins all-time in the event with five.

From Tiger and Charlie Woods to a wholesome moment with Annika Sorenstam and her son, Will McGee, check out the highlights from the final round of the 2023 PNC Championship.

2023 PNC Championship Sunday tee times and TV information

Everything you need to know for Sunday’s round at the PNC Championship.

The first round of the PNC Championship is in the books, and it was a rainy one at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.

However, Team Kuchar wasn’t affected by the weather as much as some other teams. In the first group off, Matt and son Cameron had a stellar day, shooting 15-under 57 and tying the lowest first-round score in PNC Championship history and second-lowest score in tournament history, as well. Team Kuchar has a three-shot lead heading into Sunday over myriad teams, including the defending champions Vijay and Qass Singh.

Tiger Woods and son Charlie shot 8-under 64 on Saturday.

Here’s a look at Sunday’s tee times and pairings for the 2023 PNC Championship. All times listed below are ET.

PNC Championship: How to watch

Sunday tee times

Tee time Players
9:20 a.m.
Team Price, Team Trevino
9:33 a.m.
Team Harrington, Team Faldo
9:46 a.m.
Team Thomas, Team Furyk
9:59 a.m.
Team Leonard, Team Korda
10:12 a.m.
Team Annika, Team Lehman
10:25 a.m.
Team Cink, Team O’Meara
10:38 a.m.
Team Duval, Team Daly
10:51 a.m.
Team Stricker, Team Woods
11:04 a.m.
Team Singh, Team Goosen
11:17 a.m.
Team Kuchar, Team Langer

TV info

Sunday, Dec. 17

Golf Channel/Peacock: 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
NBC/Peacock: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET

2023 PNC Championship Saturday tee times and streaming moving up to avoid weather

Everything you need to know for Saturday’s round at the PNC Championship.

It’s time for the final Silly Season event of the year.

The 2023 PNC Championship is set to get underway Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. In the field are 20 teams of former major or Players champions from the PGA Tour, LPGA or PGA Tour Champions along with one of their family members.

Eighteen teams return from last year, including defending champions Vijay and Qass Singh. Out of the field this year are Gary Player and his son, Jordan, as well as Jordan Spieth and his father, Shawn. Replacing them will be Steve Stricker and his daughter, Izzi, and Retief Goosen and his son, Leo.

Here’s a look at Saturday’s tee times and pairings for the 2023 PNC Championship. Tee times will go early Saturday off split tees because of the threat of weather.

In addition, NBC announced Friday morning that Saturday’s live coverage will start at 8:15 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock. The streaming service was originally going to start the first round at 1 p.m. ET. The 2:30 p.m. start time on NBC will not change and will now feature a replay of the first-round action.

Sunday’s TV and streaming coverage remains on schedule as originally announced. All times listed below are ET.

PNC Championship: How to watch

Saturday tee times

1st tee

Tee time Players
7:30 a.m.
Team Langer, Team Cink
7:43 a.m.
Team Annika, Team Harrington
7:56 a.m.
Team Singh, Team Goosen
8:09 a.m.
Team Korda, Team Stricker
8:22 a.m.
Team Woods, Team Thomas

10th tee

Tee time Player
7:30 a.m.
Team O’Meara, Team Kuchar
7:43 a.m.
Team Leonard, Team Faldo
7:56 a.m.
Team Trevino, Team Lehman
8:09 a.m.
Team Price, Team Furyk
8:22 a.m.
Team Duval, Team Daly

TV info

Saturday, Dec. 16

Peacock: 8:15 a.m. ET
NBC/Peacock: 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET

Sunday, Dec. 17

Golf Channel/Peacock: 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
NBC/Peacock: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET

Six past winners highlight early commits for 2023 PNC Championship field

Vijay and Qass Singh will be back to defend their title in Orlando.

Six past champions have confirmed their entry for the 2023 PNC Championship, including defending champions Vijay and Qass Singh.

Vijay will be joined by colleagues John Daly (winner in 2021), Justin Thomas (2020), David Duval (2016), Stewart Cink (2013) and Bernhard Langer (2005, 2006, 2014, 2019) for the annual parent-child event at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes on Dec. 14-17.

“I can’t tell you what it meant to win last year with Qass after 16 attempts. This tournament is so special to us, and it is such an important week for our family every year,” said Vijay. “We love everything about the tournament, from playing amongst so many legends of the game, to getting to know their kids, to just spending quality time with my son as we enjoy this unique inside-the-ropes experience together. I have played in so many tournaments all around the world over the years, but it genuinely is hard to think of a week that I look forward to and enjoy more than the PNC Championship.”

This year’s event, the 12th with PNC Bank as the title sponsor, will be broadcast live on NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock. Last year the PNC Championship boasted a field with 73 major titles. The tournament features 20 players and their relatives competing in a two-day, 36-hole scramble for the Willie Park Trophy. To qualify, players must have won a major championship or the Players Championship, and their partner must not hold any status on a professional tour.

Past champions

1995 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr. 

1996 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr. 

1997 – Raymond Floyd and Raymond Floyd Jr. 

1998 – Bob Charles and David Charles 

1999 – Jack Nicklaus and Gary Nicklaus 

2000 – Raymond Floyd and Robert Floyd 

2001 – Raymond Floyd and Robert Floyd 

2002 – Craig Stadler and Kevin Stadler 

2003 – Hale Irwin and Steve Irwin 

2004 – Larry Nelson and Drew Nelson 

2005 – Bernhard Langer and Stefan Langer 

2006 – Bernhard Langer and Stefan Langer 

2007 – Larry Nelson and Josh Nelson 

2008 – Larry Nelson and Drew Nelson 

2012 – Davis Love III and Davis “Dru” Love IV 

2013 – Stewart Cink and Connor Cink 

2014 – Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer 

2015 – Lanny Wadkins and Tucker Wadkins  

2016 – David Duval and Nick Karavites 

2017 – Angel Cabrera and Angel Cabrera, Jr.  

2018 – Davis Love III and Davis “Dru” Love IV 

2019 – Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer 

2020 – Justin Thomas and Mike Thomas

2021 – John Daly and John Daly II

2022 – Vijay Singh and Qass Singh

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‘Let’s not put anything past the guy’: As Tiger Woods wrapped up play with son Charlie at the PNC Championship, expectations for the legend continue to rise

Those with a front-row seat to Tiger Woods at the 2022 PNC Championship came away with high praise.

ORLANDO — Tiger Woods and son Charlie stepped up to the mics once more Sunday at PNC Championship, where they were asked what they’d learned about each other this week.

Charlie, 13, noted that he, of course, knew what his father was capable of, but that first round at the PNC showed him something more.

“That’s the best he’s ever played in a while,” said Charlie, “and that kind of shocked me a little bit.”

A smiling Tiger responded with, “I used to be good.

“Again, it was neat to be able to roll back the clock for him to see what I used to be capable of,” Tiger continued. “I was given some grief ­– anyone that knows what I used to be able to do was Bones. Bones got a big kick out of that yesterday.”

Team Woods opened with a 59 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and trailed by two heading into the final round of the PNC. They dipped down to a share of eighth after a second-round 65.

Jim “Bones” Mackay was on the bag for Justin Thomas this week and got a front-row seat to Woods all weekend.

“As impressed as I was with Charlie,” said Mackay, “I was that much or more impressed with Tiger in terms of where he is.”

Earlier this week, Padraig Harrington made headlines with his prediction that Woods will win another major.

“Did you see the 3-iron he hit into 18 yesterday?” Harrington continued after Sunday’s round. “There’s not many in the world of golf that could hit that shot, 159 ball speed, off the fairway with an iron and knowing his irons have quite a bit of loft, that’s a very impressive strike.”

2022 PNC Championship
Charlie Woods plays his shot from the first tee as Tiger Woods looks on during the final round of the 2022 PNC Championship at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Mackay, who was also taken with Woods’ speed, noted that next year is a Ryder Cup year: “Let’s not put anything past the guy.”

Watching Woods pour in putts dead center at the perfect speed in the middle of Saturday’s round gave Mackay flashbacks to peak Tiger.

“I’m excited,” said Mackay, “because I think he’s going to come out there and make plenty more noise and give some of those guys who would love dearly to play with him late on Sunday an idea of what it was like.”

Team Woods, also known as “Team Ice Bath,” struggled physically throughout the weekend with Tiger’s plantar fasciitis and Charlie’s bum left ankle. Tiger said they looked like walking penguins out there, but noted that the bonding time between all involved in the Woods and Thomas crew – including all the ribbing – is what mattered most.

To that end, Justin Thomas stepped up to the mic to ask Charlie for the background on his Snoopy hat.

“Well, it’s the hat that was in my closet and fits the best,” said Charlie, “and that’s all I can say about it.”

Tiger smiled broadly: “Great answer.”

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John Daly to undergo knee replacement surgery, says taking a cart ‘a big disadvantage’

Daly held off on surgery so that he and John II could attempt to defend their title.

ORLANDO – Tiger and Charlie Woods aren’t the only ones hobbled this week at the PNC Championship.

Former two-time major champion John Daly revealed that he is scheduled to have left knee replacement surgery Wednesday. Daly, 56, who has dealt with osteoarthritis, previously had his right knee replaced three years ago.

“It’s tough when you don’t have a follow-through,” Daly told pgatour.com. “I’m basically just trying to stay on one leg. But the adrenaline of playing with my son will get me through.”

“So I’ll be out for a while,” he added in a pre-tournament interview. “We’ve got Christmas coming up, so we’ll get to spend some time together.”

Daly held off on surgery so that he and John II, who is redshirting this year at Arkansas, could attempt to defend their title at the PNC Championship. The Dalys edged out Team Woods by a stroke last year.

Daly can relate to the pain that Tiger, who lately has been dealing with plantar fasciitis, is enduring to play.

“It’s no fun when you can’t walk and can’t turn and be able to get out and practice enough and complete, which I can’t do right now really,” Daly said. “I pray for Tiger. I hope his leg holds up and gets fixed because we need him on the Tour. For me, I’ve had probably more surgeries probably than Tiger. They just keep adding up over the last five years. But I get this metal put in this knee, hell, I got more metal than the Bionic Man does.”

While Tiger has been adamant that he won’t petition for use of a cart on the PGA Tour, Daly, who has used a cart in the PGA Championship since 2019, doesn’t think riding in a cart provides an edge. He argued, in fact, that it is a disadvantage.

“I’m not embarrassed to take a cart. It’s not helping my golf game by any means,” Daly said. “I would rather walk and play golf because then you have time to settle down on a good hole or a bad hole and you’re walking instead of just getting in the cart and going up and hitting the shot. It’s actually a big disadvantage. But if I could walk, I’d definitely do it.”

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‘That was saucy’: Highlights, best moments from the final round of the 2022 PNC Championship

Check out the best moments from Sunday’s final round.

It was a close contest at the Ritz.

Justin Thomas and his dad, Mike, entered the final round of the 2022 PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando with a two-shot lead on Sunday after an opening-round 15-under 57 on Saturday. They walked off the course T-2, two shots behind the winners.

Vijay Singh and his son, Qass, shot a 13-under 59 for the second consecutive day to win their first PNC Championship title. The father-son duo have played the annual silly-season event for the last 16 years and finished runner-up in 2006, 2013 and 2020.

Check out the best photos and highlights from the final round of the 2022 PNC Championship in Orlando.

Photos: Tiger, Charlie at 2022 PNC Championship