PNC Championship format, rules: How much will Tiger Woods play?

It is unquestionably the most anticipated hit-and-giggle in professional golf: the PNC Championship. And this week, it’s back again, bringing back a loaded field featuring some of the biggest names in golf, including, you may have heard, Tiger Woods and his son Charlie. Below, find everything you need to know about how the tournament works, including rules, format and how to tune into the action this weekend in Orlando.

PNC Championship preview

Well, it’d be difficult to preview the story of this weekend’s PNC Championship without previewing THE story of the championship: Tiger Woods. This weekend will mark our first protracted look at Woods’ golf game since the very same event last year, and will be the first competitive swings he’s made since the car accident in February that nearly took his life. Nobody knows where Tiger’s game is at heading into the PNC (not even Tiger himself, it seems), and while there’s very little on the line competitively, he knows as well as anyone that the golf world will be watching to see the shape his game is in.

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The weekend will also offer golf fans their second look at young Charlie Woods, who dazzled in last year’s performance alongside Dad. Charlie is a gifted young player with a sweet swing, and if he’s any bit as precocious as he was last year, we can bet he’ll provide a few smile-worthy moments throughout the telecast.

Elsewhere, a host of former major champs prepares to tee it up in Orlando, including Justin Thomas and father Mike, Nelly Korda and father Petr, and Vijay Singh and his son, Qass.

How to watch the 2021 PNC on TV

You can watch the entire 2021 PNC Championship on Golf Channel and NBC. Golf Channel will air Friday’s pro-am as well as early coverage on Saturday and Sunday, with NBC taking over for the heart of the broadcast both days. Check out the full TV schedule below.

Friday, December 17: 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Saturday, December 18: 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET (NBC); 6:30-10:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel re-air)
Sunday, December 19: 12:30-1 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 1-4:30 p.m. ET (NBC); 5-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel re-air)

How to watch the 2021 PNC online, streaming

You can watch the 2021 PNC Championship online in multiple ways. Peacock will provide exclusive early coverage from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, and from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET on Sunday. Peacock will also offer full simulcasts of both the Golf Channel and NBC broadcasts. In addition, you can stream the Golf Channel coverage at golfchannel.com/watch and the NBC coverage at nbcsports.com/live by logging in with your cable credentials.

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PNC Championship format, rules

Unlike the typical 72-hole grind of the PGA Tour, the PNC Championship is a 36-hole event, meaning players compete over just two rounds. The remaining two tournament days — Thursday and Friday — are reserved for a series of Pro-Ams.

Once play begins, the 40-player, 20-team event competes in a two-person scramble. In a two-person scramble format, each player hits a tee shot, and then the “team” selects the better of the two shots. Then, each player hits an approach, and the team selects the better of the two approaches. Each team continues this pattern until the ball has been holed.

At the end of 36 holes, the team with the lowest score will be declared the winner.