World Golf Hall of Famer and 10-time major champ Annika Sorenstam made history last year by becoming the first female pro to compete in the PNC Championship, which she played alongside her father, Tom. The longstanding December tournament, formerly known as the PNC Father-Son Challenge, features a field of major and/or Players Championship winners competing in a 36-hole scramble with a family member as a partner.
I spoke with Sorenstam recently via Zoom on behalf of her new partnership with Diamond Resorts. She said she loved the PNC experience in 2019, and will tee it up again this week with her father. Nineteen other duos will share the stage — including the highly anticipated pairing of Tiger Woods his young son, Charlie, who are playing in the event for the first time.
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Sorenstam says she hasn’t seen Charlie play in person, but like everyone, is looking forward to seeing him compete alongside his famous father.
“I remember when Tiger lived in Orlando, [his daughter] Sam and Charlie would come over and they would swim in the pool, we would hang out,” Sorenstam said. “But he was this tall then. So certainly, like all the kids, they grow up quickly and mature. So it will be nice to see him at this fantastic event.”
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Now that Sorenstam is an experienced PNC veteran, I asked her what advice she would share with Tiger and Charlie, and other PNC first-timers like Bubba Watson and his father-in-law, Wayne.
“We played Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,” Sorenstam said of her experience last year. “And by the time that Saturday came, we were exhausted. So we learned the lesson, we’ve got to pace ourselves. But have fun, create the memories, and it’s going to be good.”
The PNC Championship begins on Saturday, December 19, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla.