WORLD NO.3 JUSTIN THOMAS TO MAKE TOURNAMENT DEBUT IN 2020 PNC CHAMPIONSHIP
November 6, 2020
The 2020 PNC Championship has confirmed 18 of the 20 players taking part in this year’s tournament, with 2017 US PGA Champion Justin Thomas set to make his debut alongside his dad, Mike, and defending champions Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason, heading a field rich in major-winners and their family members.
Taking place at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes from Dec. 17-20, the recently re-named PNC Championship heads into a new era with a star-studded field that already boasts 49 Major titles and almost 1000 professional wins.
While this year’s tournament will take place without spectators due to COVID-19 related restrictions, fans will still be able to enjoy watching these A-list golfers and their partners. An extensive broadcast schedule is planned to air on NBC, GOLF Channel and Peacock (click here for times.) There also will be enhanced social media coverage across all PNC Championship channels to ensure fans don’t miss out on what continues to be the largest and most impressive gathering of golf’s all-time legends each year.
Golfing royalty Gary Player, Greg Norman, Lee Janzen, Tom Kite, John Daly, Mark O’Meara, Retief Goosen, Tom Lehman and Vijay Singh are among the many major champions returning to participate in the PNC Championship. Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 Open Champion is also making his debut in the event alongside his son Eric. Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar will play with their sons this year, having previously partnered their fathers. In addition to four-time champion Langer, past champion David Duval returns along with ten-time major winner Annika Sorenstam, who made her debut last year.
Thomas, currently ranked No.3 on the Official World Golf Rankings commented; “I can’t think a better way to close out my golfing year than playing with my dad against so many of the world’s greatest golfers and their families. It will be a perfect way to finish before the Christmas break, and we are both very excited to make our debut in Orlando!”
Sorenstam, who played with her dad Tom in the 2019 edition and they will do so again this year said, “I was thrilled to receive the invite to return to the PNC Championship. It is such a special tournament and my whole family enjoyed every minute of the experience last year, so we all can’t wait to get back there this December.”
Padraig Harrington, three-time major winner and current European Ryder Cup Captain said, ““It’s difficult to articulate just how much I appreciate having the opportunity to play alongside my son amongst such an impressive gathering of golf’s legends.”
Six-time major winner Lee Trevino hasn’t missed a single tournament since it debuted in 1995. Last year, he matched his best ever finish with a T-6th commented, “This is the highlight of my year from both a family and golfing point of view, and as long as I am welcome, I will be trying to win that elusive belt!”
With two golf stars to be announced shortly, the first 18 confirmed are:
- Mark Calcavecchia USA
- John Daly USA
- David Duval* USA
- Jim Furyk USA
- Retief Goosen RSA
- Padraig Harrington IRE
- Lee Janzen USA
- Tom Kite USA
- Matt Kuchar USA
- Bernhard Langer* GER
- Tom Lehman USA
- Greg Norman AUS
- Mark O’Meara USA
- Gary Player RSA
- Vijay Singh FIJ
- Annika Sorenstam SWE
- Justin Thomas USA
- Lee Trevino USA
*denotes past winner
Since the inaugural tournament in 1995, when ten major winners gathered with their sons, the Championship has continued to evolve and develop. It now features 20 major champions and their relatives competing for the total purse of $1,085,000 in a two-day 36-hole scramble for the Willie Park Trophy. The 2019 edition was won by two-time major champion Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason.
For over 20 years, the tournament has featured a multitude of family combinations including Father/Son, Father/Daughter, Father/Grandson, Son/Father and more recently, Daughter/Father when Annika Sorenstam paired with her father Tom Sorenstam. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has been the title sponsor of the tournament since 2012.
To qualify for the PNC Championship, players must have won a major championship or The Players Championship. Their partner must not hold a PGA TOUR card.
The PNC Championship is operated in partnership by IMG and NBC Sports.
For more information please visit pncchampionship.com.
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Past Champions of the PNC Championship
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
About PNC
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
About NBC Sports Group
When the Comcast-NBCUniversal transaction was completed in January 2011, the sports assets of the two companies combined to form NBC Sports Group, which serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBCSN, Golf Channel, NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and NBC Sports Digital, which includes NBCSports.com, NBCOlympics.com, GolfChannel.com, the digital assets of the NBC Sports Regional Networks, Rotoworld, the NBC Sports Talk franchise, multiple apps, and two transactional sports businesses, GolfNow and SportsEngine. NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, NASCAR, PGA TOUR, The R&A, PGA of America, Churchill Downs, Premier League, Tour de France, French Open, IndyCar and many more.
About Grande Lakes Orlando
The 500-acre Grande Lakes Orlando estate features a 582-room Ritz-Carlton and 1,000-room JW Marriott hotel situated at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. Guests at both hotels can enjoy all the facilities and services at Grande Lakes Orlando, including an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course and the 40,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa as well as three pools including the winding lazy river at JW Marriott and the new AquaCourse 360 interactive water feature. Experience a wealth of dining options throughout Grande Lakes Orlando, where the cuisine is as diverse as the resort.
Twelve outlets to choose from featuring a brand new steak and seafood restaurant, Knife & Spoon led by award-winning chef John Tesar, southern-inspired cuisine at Highball & Harvest and Mediterranean Italian at PRIMO led by multiple time James Beard award-winning chef Melissa Kelly, a leader in the city’s farm-to-fork movement. The resort sources ingredients from its on-site apiaries and 18,000-square-foot Whisper Creek Farm.
On-property activities include Grande Lakes Sports Experiences offering kayaking, eco-tours on Shingle Creek, falconry, mountain biking and fishing school. Conference and meeting attendees have their pick of a selection of meeting space options located across 150,000 square feet that connects the two properties plus more than 100,000 square feet of outdoor space.
Grande Lakes is located 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport, five minutes from the Orange County Convention Center and minutes from the major theme parks. Follow Grande Lakes Orlando on Twitter at @RC_Orlando and @JW_Orlando, Instagram @ritzcarltonorlando and jwmorlando and Facebook ritzcarltonorlando and jwmarriottorlando. For more information about Grande Lakes Orlando, visit www.grandelakes.com.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. The company manages some of the world’s greatest athletes and fashion icons; owns and operates hundreds of live events annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in licensing, sports training and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company.
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Media Contacts:
Michele Mair, IMG, +44 77990574184