Father/Son Challenge due to return in Decemeber
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The Father-Son Challenge, the made-for-television event last held in 2008, appears poised to make a comeback in December -- but with a potentially expanded format.
Alastair Johnston, vice chairman of IMG Worldwide, confirmed that a deal is being sought to bring back a competition that was popular among the participants.
"We're confident that we can get [a contract] done," Johnston said.
In addition to the professional competition, an accompanying amateur competition is being added and contested simultaneously. Teams would be determined via an undetermined number of regional qualifiers in the U.S.
Selection of a host golf course has yet to be finalized. A television source said NBC Sports, which owns the event jointly with IMG, is scheduled to broadcast the 36-hole event live the third weekend in December.
The annual two person golf tournament featured PGA Tour and Champions Tour golfers and (usually) their sons that was played at Champions Gate Golf Resort in Florida from 1995 to 2008.
The event's name became somewhat inaccurate as Fuzzy Zoeller teamed up with his daughter Gretchen in 2005 and Arnold Palmer partnered one of his grandsons. The junior team members ranged from middle school age up, and included a few with tour golf careers of their own.
The tournament was played over 36 holes for the Willie Park Trophy, in memory of the father and son British Open champions Willie Park Snr and Willie Park Jnr.
In 2006 the prize fund was US$1 million. The tournament was jointly owned by IMG and NBC Sports.
The field comprised eighteen teams, and the fathers needed to have won a major championship to be eligible. Many of the world's greatest golfers took part including Jack Nicklaus.
The 2009 edition of the tournament was cancelled due to the withdrawal of the sponsor, and hopes to revive the event in 2010 came to nothing.
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