By Ryan Herrington
It’s a two-day exhibition with relatively low stakes but genuinely big rewards, as the latest champions can attest. Two-time major winner Angel Cabrera and his son, Angel Jr., weren’t originally scheduled to play in this week’s PNC Father/Son Challenge. But the duo received the last invitation into the 20-team field when Curtis and Tom Strange had to bow out, and made it count with a two-stroke victory over Bernhard and Jason Langer and David Duval and Nick Karavites.

The Cabreras followed up an opening 59 in the scramble format on Saturday with a 12-under 60 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando on Sunday.

“[This week] has been so special that it really can’t compare to any event I have played in the past,” Angel Jr., said. The 28-year-old, who goes by the nickname Angelito has been trying to follow in his father’s footsteps, having turned pro and played in 15 PGA Tour Latinoamerica events during his career. He also has made one lone PGA Tour start, a missed cut at the 2013 Puerto Rico Open.

Cabrera Sr., meanwhile, has struggled in 2017, playing 17 events and making just five cuts, with no finish better than T-34 in an individual stroke-play event. He came into the week in Orlando with an injured wrist but became inspired by the circumstances.

“This is certain my best week of the year,” said Cabrera, 48, the 2009 Masters champ and 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont. “To play alongside all the legends … as well as playing alongside my son, has been the greatest week of the year.”

The Cabreras are just the fourth father-son team to claim the title in their first appearance.

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Known as ‘Little John Daly’, the 13-year-old five-handicapper showed his two-time major championship winning father the way with a stiffed wedge shot during the tournament at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN8LGnDDNSx/?taken-by=worldlinksgolf&hl=en

They may have played in matching outfits but Little John apparently isn’t quite as brash as his 50-year-old dad.

“LJ”, who turned 13 in July, is an all-around athlete who plays football, basketball and golf, but mainly focuses on golf and attends the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy in Clermont, Florida after picking up the game from his superstar father when he was two.

“He started with chipping and putting,” John Snr told the event’s PR team beforehand.  “I’ve never pressured him to play.  He’s just enjoyed the game.  I’ve seen too many fathers pressure their kids to play.  Now he wants to play every day.”

Major winner turned TV pundit David Duval and stepson Nick Karavites won the famed event, shooting a 10-under-par 62 to finish with a -21 total.

They edged 2013 champions Stewart and Connor Cink, newcomers Retief and Leo Goosen, and Fred and Taylor Funk by one shot to earn the $200,000 first-place cheque.

Duval, who won the 2001 Open Championship, will now add another piece of golf history to his trophy cabinet. The PNC Father/Son Championship winners receive the Willie Park belts, named for the first father and son duo to win the Open Championship, Willie Park Sr. and Jr.

For the record, event newcomers John and Little John Daly shot 63 to tie for ninth at -17.

“The way L.J. played this week, I’m so proud of him,” Daly said. “He’s been clutch all week. It’s been a great week for me. The progress for him to see it under the gun, the way he performed, it was incredible.”

To qualify for the PNC Father/Son Challenge, participants must have won either a major championship or The Players Championship. The professional’s partner must not currently hold a Tour card, and while the majority of partners in the history of the event have been the sons of the golf legends, the family-themed tournament has seen daughters and grandsons participate over the years.

Former champions include Jack and Gary Nicklaus, Bob and David Charles, Raymond Floyd and his son Raymond Jnr, Craig and Kevin Stadler and Berhard and Stefan Langer.

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