2023 PNC Championship: Power Rankings, Defending Champion, Prize Money, and Major Details

The golf world is all gearing up to celebrate one of the most important aspects of life: family! One of the most unique tournaments of the year, the PNC Championship, is all set to kick off on the 14th of December. Moreover, the much-anticipated event will be hosted at the Ritz-Carton Golf Club in Florida.

The championship would witness a total of 20 golfers teaming up with a member of their family to duke it out against other squads. What’s more, the tourney would be played out in a unique format, allowing the team to squeeze out the best of their ability and bond to take a cut off the $1,085,000 purse. However, with so much at stake, curiosity naturally arises regarding the top contenders for the crown!

The community is all eager for the 2023 PNC Championship as the hype slowly increases for the same. What’s more, the golfing world would be able to spot a total of 20 teams of talented athletes on the greens including the likes of the defending champions, among others. Let us take a quick look at some of the teams that are gearing up for the ultimate family showdown.

1. Tiger Woods/Charlie Woods: Possibly the most celebrated father-son duo of golf in 2023, Tiger Woods and his son Charlie would hope to clinch their first-ever title at the upcoming competition. The 14-year-old had won the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s Major Championship at Village Golf Course, along with being part of the team that bagged the FHSAA Class A state championship. Moreover, with the 15X major champ’s refreshing health update and comeback coupled with his kid’s amazing performance in the greens this year, the duo would look to finish better than their 2021 run, a runner-up at 119 (-25).

2. Vijay Singh/Qass Singh: The Fijian duo are the current defending champions of the special tournament. What’s more, they were able to beat the likes of team John Daly and team Justin Thomas, the winning squads of the previous two years, by two strokes at 26-under, 118. Moreover, the 60-year-old would be looking to carry forward his momentum from the eight top-10 finishes on the Champions Tour this year, including the recent T4 at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship and a win at the Ally Challenge.

3. Nelly Korda/Petr Korda: Making her third appearance at the PNC Championship, the former No. 1 golfer on the Rolex Rankings would look to clinch the title of champion this year with her father, Petr Korda. The LPGA icon’s dad was a professional tennis player himself, boasting numerous wins in his career. Moreover, he has been instrumental in the woman golfer raking in victories, including her major in 2021 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The athletic father, coupled with the in-form daughter, who herself boasts a total of ten top-10 finishes in 2023, is undoubtedly a top contender for the event.

4. John Daly/John Daly II: Probably the most die-hard fan of the PNC Championship ever to grace the greens, Daly would look to replicate the 2021 triumph with his son, John Daly II. The duo had managed to beat Woods’s team and emerge victorious at the event with a record score of 27-under, 117, two strokes ahead of the legendary golfer and his son. Although the 57-year-old has only a single top-10 finish at the Sanford International on the Champions Tour, the senior pro, along with his son, who boasted a T10 finish at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup recently, is indubitably a fan favorite to win the unique event.

5. Steve Stricker/Izzi Stricker: The 7X PGA Tour Champions major winner would look to clinch his first victory of the event with his daughter, Izzi Stricker. Although the pro himself is a strong contender, as can be evident from the six wins he claimed on the senior circuit in the year, including three majors, his daughter is by no means someone to be glossed over. What’s more, the female golfer was able to defend her title at the Wisconsin Girls State Championship (WIAA Division 1), all the while leading her team to a T2 finish. And, as a result, the Waunakee senior was named the state’s co-player of the year. A truly frightening duo, one can say!

The PNC Championship shifted to the Ritz Carlton Golf Club, Florida, in 2012. The course boasts unique greens that are situated against a breathtaking landscape, including ponds, wetlands, and live oaks, among others, designed by none other than Greg Norman.

Additionally, the grounds have received the USGA’s endorsement and certification as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. While the golf course provides a challenge to the golfers through its rare natural elements, it is nonetheless a haven that can enhance wildlife and protect natural resources.