AP reports that in Orlando, Florida, That was the best family trip Tiger Woods has ever had, even though it rained. It was the PNC Championship on Saturday. Charlie, his 14-year-old son, and Sam, his 16-year-old daughter, were there with him as caddies for the first time.
Not enough birds were the only thing that was missing.
We got through the worst of the rain at The Ritz-Carlton Club, but we still finished behind 10 other teams. “It couldn’t have been any more special for us,” Woods said.
It was Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron who were in first place with a score of 15 under 57. They were three shots ahead of Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, David Duval, and Retief Goosen.
Both Woods and his son Charlie were at 8-under 64, thanks in large part to Charlie’s powerful drives even though they had to move the tees back. Woods hit most of the approach shots, but neither of them converted enough birdie chances.
Charles said, “Today I drove the ball really well.” “I didn’t miss a fairway, and I still shot 8 under.” We’re not good at putting.”
Woods closed his eyes and smiled at that. He said, “That’s it right there.”
Lots of people are talking about how much their swings and other behaviours are alike, but don’t forget about the needle and the trash talking.
On the fifth hole, a par 5, Charlie Woods hit a great drive and waived it away. Justin Thomas could only smile and watch. On the 11th, the 14-year-old hit a big shot that stopped 65 yards short of the green. He then hit a wedge to a few feet and turned and shrugged.
The PNC can only have 20 teams, each with a major title from any tour or The Players Championship winner and a family member. That is what brought Steve Stricker to the game for the first time. He has won three senior majors this year. This year, Bobbi Maria was on the Epson Tour, so he played with his younger daughter Izzi.
Along with Izzi, who played with one of her favourite tour players, Nelly Korda, they also had a 64. Now Woods and his son are in the final round.
Kuchar has played with both of his kids and won the Players Championship to do so. Carson likes tennis more (Kuchar’s wife played at Georgia Tech), while Cameron is all about golf. The last trip he took was with his family to Europe, where he caddied for his dad at the Dunhill Links Championship and the Andalucia Masters.
Kuchar told him, “It’s been fun, and his progress has been all over the place.” “You see his whole game get better. He hits the ball farther and better with his irons off the tee.” Anyone who sees him with a wedge in his hand is amazed, in my opinion. “His short game is great.”
The PNC Championship is being fought for the second time by Singh and Duval. Two years ago, John Daly and his son, who plays football at Arkansas, won it. They were behind by four shots.
Sam Woods mostly plays football, and her first day as a caddie went well. When it rained, everyone was in carts with covers over their clubs. Woods said that his daughter sometimes watches them practise in the garden, but she doesn’t go to the golf course very often.
Elin, her mother, watched from outside the walls.
Woods is only playing for the second time since April, when he had surgery to fuse his ankle bones together. He is still determined to play once a month in 2024, most likely starting at Riviera in February for the Genesis Invitational, where he is the event host.
Charlie goes to Benjamin School, which won the state title in Class A this year. Woods has been way ahead of kids his age since grade school, but he wasn’t on a high school championship team. That’s one area where he is ahead of his father.
Charles said, “It feels pretty good to beat him and have something he doesn’t have.”
They have played in the PNC Championship four times. Two years ago, when they came in second place behind Daly and his son, that was their best finish. To win the Willie Park Trophy, they have seven shots and 10 teams to beat.
The course is set up at 6,576 yards, and Charlie Woods is starting from the first set of tees. It puts him with Korda, Stricker, Jim Furyk, and John Daly. It was fun to watch that part of their game. Charles said Woods’s son has grown four inches, and Woods said his son’s swing speed has gone over 120 mph.
The putting shot didn’t go in. They can try again tomorrow to find out and see if they or someone else can catch Kuchar and his son.
- Due to worries about the weather, the PNC Championship has changed the tee times and TV schedule.
- There will not be a Saudi LIV deal until later this week, but a $3 billion deal with American sports owners is “imminent.”
- Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf, was “buried” by players after Jon Rahm joined the Saudi league.
- “Everyone and his brother here to give it a try” because five cards are back at PGA Tour Q-School.
