Bernhard Langer’s dramatic eagle putt ended Tiger and Charlie Woods’ bid for a long-awaited PNC Championship title and delivered golf’s ironman a record-setting win last year.
Langer and son Jason will return this week seeking their third consecutive PNC, and fifth overall (also won in 2019, 2014) and earn on a seventh for the 68-year-old, who won in 2004-05 with son Stefan.
Tiger and Charlie, participants since 2020, will not be in pursuit as the Hall of Famer and 82-time PGA Tour winner recovers from another back surgery.
The fan favorites will be missed, but the 20-team field will continue to feature many of golf’s biggest names and most popular players, including 86-year-old Lee Trevino, sweet-swinging Fred Couples, big-hitting John Daly and John Daly II, and LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam and son Will McGee, who at 14 is the youngest player in the field.
The Langers and Dalys are among six returning champions, including Davis Love III and Dru (2018), and Vijay and Qass Singh (2022). Stewart Cink, who won in 2013 with son Connor and will play this week with son Reagan. David Duval, the 2016 champion with stepson Nick Karavites, will tee it up with son Brady.
The 36-hole scramble format facilitates low-scoring shootouts often determined on the par-5 18th hole at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.
Few finishes were more exhilarating as in 2024.
A hole-in-one by 15-year-old Charlie Woods on the 176-yard par-3, No. 4 set the stage for a three-hour, neck-and-neck battle with the Langers, with each team carding record-matching 15-under 57s and tournament-record 116 totals. Bernhard Langer’s winning putt caught the right edge of the cup on the first playoff hole as sunlight began to fade.
Tiger Woods reacts with his son Charlie Woods after he aces the par-3 fourth hole during the final round of the 2024 PNC Championship on Dec. 22, 2024 at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Sitting five shots back were three teams, including Padraig Harrington and son Paddy, who made an ace himself on the 185-yard par-3 eighth hole. After challenging in 2024, the Harrington’s aim to win in 2025.
“Everything seemed to click for us and we played great,” Harrington said. “Paddy just felt more comfortable with his game last year and he really played some fantastic golf. It was such a special moment to share with him and a hole-in-one for any amateur is amazing.
“Paddy has definitely played much more this season to get ready, which I love to see.”
Special moments and lifetime memories await 40 competitors.
Gary and Dan Woodland will experience the PNC for the first time, and two years after 2019 U.S. Open champion underwent brain surgery in September to remove benign lesion pressing on his brain’s fear/anxiety center.
“I am thrilled to have finally gotten the invite for this very special tournament,” Woodland said. “I feel so fortunate to be healthy and so thankful to my family who supported me. I can’t think of a more perfect way to start the holidays.”
The field features professionals who have won a major championship on the PGA, LPGA or Champions tours or The Players Championship, while the partner must not hold any playing status on a professional Tour.
A field featuring golfers who reached the pinnacle of the game stirs competitive juices.
Sorenstam, a 72-time LPGA Tour winner, and 13-year-old Will began last year’s final three shots back, but could not keep up with the furious pace. A respectable 9-under par 63 left Team Annika nine shots back and in 11th place for the second year in a row.
“Will has said that he looks forward to this week all year and I would say it’s the same for me,” Sorenstam said. “I love sharing the anticipation and excitement with Will as we practice towards this shared goal. We look forward to trying to improve our position on the 2025 PNC Championship leaderboard while loving every single minute of our week together.”
Tickets remain available on the tournament Web site for those interested in seeing whether Sorenstam and son can contend, the Langers can add to their record or another pairing can emerge on Sunday evening.
Pro-Am events Thursday and Friday are followed by 18-hole tournament rounds Saturday and Sunday.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com.
Up next …
PNC Championship
When: Thursday-Friday Pro-Am
Saturday-Sunday 36-hole tournament
Where: The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
TV
Friday: Noon-2:30 p.m, Golf Channel
Saturday: 1-2:30 p.m., Peacock
2:30-6 p.m., NBC/Peacock
Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Golf Channel/Peacock
12:30-1:30 p.m., Peacock/NBC Sports
1:30-4:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock
