ORLANDO, Fla. — John Daly is teaming with 13-year-old Little John in the PNC Father/Son Challenge.
“I think it’s going to be great. We’ve been looking forward to it for a while,” said Daly, set to open the 20-team scramble event Saturday at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club’s Grande Lakes.
Little John goes to Gary Gilchrist’s golf school.
“I don’t get to see him as much as I’d like. It’s a golf academy,” Daly said. “When we have a break or holidays or whatever and he’s not in school we’re always playing.”
Daly said Little John was a 5-handicap.
“The amazing thing is when he was born, he started playing at 2, and I always was chipping and putting — that’s all I would practice most of the time,” Daly said. “I wasn’t a range (guy). He just loves to chip and putt. He’s hits it about 240, 250 off the tee. Seven-iron about 140?
No.
“One-fifty,” Little John corrected.
And he’s comfortable in front of crowds.
“He don’t get nervous,” Daly said.
Lanny and Tucker Wadkins are back after winning last year, Jack Nicklaus is playing with his oldest son, 55-year-old Jackie, and Bernhard Langer is teaming with daughter Christina. The fathers earned spots in the field by winning major championships.
“We’ll have a good time,” Jack Nicklaus said. “As long as he plays well, we’ll do well because I can’t play well. I’m terrible, but that’s all right.”
