Del Webb Father/Son Challenge: First-round notes

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Larry Nelson is making his 14th appearance in the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge, this year with his son Drew.

LUCKY NO. 14
Making their 14th appearance in the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge are Hale and Steve Irwin, who have played in every event. The 2003 champions, who tied for 11th in 2007 after a final-round 61, are the third leading money-winning individual team in the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge with $940,200. Larry Nelson is also making his 14th appearance in this event and is playing with son Drew this year after winning the title with son Josh in 2007. Nelson is the second leading money winner in event history with $949,166. Also keeping their perfect attendance records are Ray Floyd and Lee Trevino. Floyd, who is playing with son Raymond Jr. this year, has combined with Raymond Jr. and son Robert to win five titles and $1,315,633, making them the leading money-winning family. Trevino is playing with son Daniel for the third straight year after playing six times with his oldest son, Rick, and five times with son Tony.

WELCOME TO CHAMPIONSGATE, GLAD TO HAVE YOU
New to the field are the recent captains of both squads in the Ryder Cup matches at Valhalla. European Team Captain Nick Faldo is playing with his son Matthew for the first time, and the duo combined to shoot 8-under 64. Paul Azinger, the Captain of the victorious American Team, is playing with Aaron Stewart, the son of the late Payne Stewart. They posted a 4-under 68 in the scramble format. Stewart played in the 2004 Del Webb Father/Son Challenge with two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, and they tied for 12th.

KITE'S FLYING HIGH AFTER FIRST ROUND
With an opening-round, 11-under 61, Team Kite (Tom and son David) enjoyed their best round together in their 10 trips to the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge. Behind a back-nine 28 that began with three consecutive birdies and ended with an eagle-par-birdie finish, and the improved play of David -- who his father said played his best in quite awhile -- Team Kite is tied for the first-round lead. The previous-best finish for the Kites in this event is a tie for third in 2004.

MOBILIZE ARNIE'S ARMY
Yes, the draft notices went out for Arnie's Army, after Arnold Palmer and grandson Sam Saunders appeared on the leaderboard. Playing in the event for the sixth consecutive year, Palmer and Saunders posted an 8-under 64 that puts them in a tie for seventh after the first round.

IT'S A TOUGH TRIPLE
It's no secret that the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge is one of the hardest tournaments to get into; fathers have to own a major championship, and even that doesn't guarantee you a golden ticket into the 18-team field. But if there's one thing harder than getting into the prestigious event, it's defending a title. Only two teams: Team Floyd and Team Langer can boast back-to-back Willie Park Trophy belts, with the Floyds winning the first three events (1995-97) and again in 2000-2001, and the Langers winning in 2005-06. Team Nelson is tied for the lead after carding an 11-under 61 and will have a golden opportunity to join this select group tomorrow. A winner last year with son Josh, Larry Nelson is also attempting to win for a second time with his other son Drew. The duo claimed the Father/Son Challenge in 2004.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEE
Lee Trevino celebrated his 69th birthday on Tuesday this week, making him the third-oldest player in the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge field, behind Palmer (79) and Billy Casper (77).

STRONG FIELD
The 18 professionals in this year's field have won a combined (PGA TOUR/Champions Tour) 600 tournaments and 68 major championships on the PGA TOUR. There are 13 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame in this year's event.