Pro-Am R1 Field Insights

Tournament in Numbers:

• 11 former World No.1s
• 7 Ryder Cup Captains
• 15 Ryder cup players with 82 appearances
• 1080+ total professional wins
• 69 Major titles
• 5 past champions
• 11 World Golf Hall of Fame members
• 27th edition

13th year with PNC Bank as title Sponsor, and it has just been announced that PNC will extend its contract as title sponsor of the PNC Championship until 2032.

The 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman is playing in his first PNC Championship with 18-year-old son Jacob this week.

On how great it is to be making his debut…

“It’s an absolute thrill. For me, it’s a little bit different. Obviously I’m not used to playing in tournaments nowadays. It’s been, shucks, five years since I’ve actually competed in a tournament.

It’s fun to get that going a little bit. But most of all to be able to share this opportunity with my son is, you know, a dream come true. It’s always such a cliche, but in this sense, when you’ve been a golfer your whole life and then you have a child that falls in love with the game, it’s the ultimate dream.”

Jacob Immelman, a freshman at Clemson, on playing in the same tournament as so many legends…

“I mean, to think that I’m playing in the same tournament as Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, it’s unbelievable to think about. Never thought I would be able to say that. Just kind of taking it all in. It’s pretty fun.”

Former World No.1 Fred Couples is making his debut this week with 17-year-old stepson Hunter.

On what Tiger texted him when he heard Fred was playing with Hunter…

“He said, Dude, I’m so excited for you. It’s just the hang that you’re going to love. And I already know all that, but then he said, You want to play? I said, No, we are not playing with you and Charlie. That is not going to happen.”

On watching past PNC Championships…

“For me personally, I’ve seen enough of it that every pro that walks off the 18th green says it was the greatest week of their lives. And if I don’t say that, somebody better come and shoot me.”

Ten-time major champion Annika Sorenstam has returned for her 5th PNC Championship with 13-year-old son Will.

On how much she loves watching Will grow as a golfer…

“So I do have to hit it quite well to make sure I’m past him, which is fun. But it’s one of those moments that I’m excited that he will, but then part of me is, Hmm, what does that mean about my game? I’m going this way, and he’s going up, but I’m excited for him.

It keeps me continue to work on my game, get a little fired up. I don’t want to lose it yet. So going to hold on to it as long as I can. I’m his biggest supporter. I want him to beat me.”

Will McGee on why this is his favourite week of the year…

“It’s a big event with a bunch of big players, and I want to see how I can stack up against them with my mom as my partner and just try to do better each year after first year I think we were towards the bottom. We jumped up a little last year. Hopefully we’re towards the top this year.”