Healing over competition... 'Miso Round'

Exciting Special Event with Family and Colleagues
Thrilling Parent-Child Play at PNC Championship
Grant Thornton Invitational 'Mixed Doubles Tournament'
'Doubles Tournament' Dow Championship Winners Receive 2-Year Seed

Tour players face a survival battle at every tournament. They must achieve good results to continue their "work life." If they fail to earn prize money, they lose their tour card and suffer mentally. In the worst case, they may not be able to compete on the tour at all. Of course, not every tournament is fiercely competitive. Some events offer healing. They also provide entertainment for golf fans. These are more enjoyable special events shared with family and colleagues.

John Daly and his son are regulars at the PNC Championship every year. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

A representative example is the family team golf tournament, the PNC Championship (total prize money $1,085,000), which opens on the 21st (local time) at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, USA. This is a 36-hole event on the PGA Tour Champions where players with major championship wins in men's or women's golf team up with one family member?father, son, or daughter?to compete in pairs. Twenty teams participate, competing in friendly rivalry over two days.

This tournament is full of laughter. It is an event enjoyed on the course with family members who have sacrificed for the players. Unlike other tournaments, golf carts are allowed for transportation. You can see players like John Daly, David Duval (both USA), and Nick Faldo (England). Nelly Korda (USA) teams up with her father Petr, who won the Australian Open in tennis, and "Golf Queen" Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) competes with her son Will McGee. This year, "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (USA) is also making headlines by playing alongside his son Charlie. Woods' bright smile as he watches his son is a bonus. Woods said with a bright smile, "It's always great to hang out with friends and family."

There is also a mixed doubles tournament where the coordination between male and female players is crucial. This was the Grant Thornton Invitational (total prize money $4 million), which concluded on the 15th at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, USA. It is jointly organized by the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour. Teams of two compete. The tournament is played over three rounds and 54 holes. The first round is a scramble, the second round is foursomes, and the third round uses a modified four-ball format where players alternate shots on the same ball.

Kim Juhyung and Gino Titingkun showcased fantastic chemistry at the Grant Thornton International. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News Agency

This year, Kim Joo-hyung paired with Gino Titikun (Thailand) and finished as runners-up. After an exciting round, they split the prize money of $280,000 each. Kim Joo-hyung said with a smile, "Playing with Gino brought back good old memories. I hope to have another chance in the future." Jake Knapp (USA) and Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand) won the tournament. Defending champions Jason Day (Australia) and Lydia Ko (New Zealand) also created joyful memories.

There is also a doubles tournament called the Dow Championship (total prize money $3 million). Established in 2019, two players form a team to compete for the title. The first and third rounds are played in foursomes format, while the second and fourth rounds use the four-ball format.

Results and records from this tournament do not count toward Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, or other statistical records. There are no world ranking points awarded. However, winners are guaranteed a two-year tour card, just like winners of regular tournaments. Next year, it will be held on July 27 at the Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan, USA. The defending champions are Inruining (China) and Titikun.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.