ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods didn’t have a family outing quite like the PNC Championship on Saturday, even in the rain. He was competing with his 14-year-old son Charlie and 16-year-old daughter, Sam, on the bag like a box for the first time.
The only thing missing is enough birdies.
“It couldn’t have been more special for us,” Woods said after the first two rounds at the Ritz-Carlton Club, where they weathered the worst of the rain and trailed 10 other teams.
Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron led the way with a 15-under 57, taking a three-shot lead over the teams of Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, David Duvall and Retief Goosen.
Woods and his son had an 8-under 64, relying on Charlie’s booming putts even while having to turn back a set of tees, as Woods made most of the approach shots and neither converted enough birdie opportunities.
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“I shot the ball well today,” Charlie said. “He didn’t miss the lane and still managed to shoot 8 under. We’re just bad at placing things.
Which Woods caused To close his eyes and smile. “That about sums it up there,” he said.
Much attention is paid to the similarities between them in their vagaries and other behaviors, but needle talk and trash talk should not be overlooked.
Charlie Woods routed a drive through the par-5 fifth hole and He waved goodbye, as Justin Thomas could only watch and smile. The 14-year-old also made a big drive on the 11th, about 65 yards from the green, hitting a wedge a few feet away and turning around and shrugging his shoulders.
PNC is limited to 20 teams of major champions from any tour, or Players Championship winners, and a family member. This is what brought Steve Stricker (three major wins this year) to the field for the first time. He played with his youngest daughter, Izzie, because Bobbi Maria earned Epson Tour status this year.
They also got a 64 while Izzi played with her favorite players on the tour – Nelly Korda – and now she gets Woods and his son in the final round.
Kuchar, a Players Championship winner, played with his two sons. Carson leans more toward tennis (Kuchar’s wife played at Georgia Tech) and Cameron is all about golf. He recently took a trip to Europe with the family, caddying for his father in the Dunhill Links Championship and Andalusia Masters Championship.
“It was a fun deal and his development has been all over the place,” Kuchar said. “You watch the whole game get better, whether it’s off the tee, he has the length advantage and the iron is great. I think anyone who sees him with a wedge in his hand is impressed. He had a great short game.”
Singh and Duvall are trying to win their second PNC Championship. John Daly and his son, who plays at Arkansas, won it two years ago. They were four shots behind.
Sam Woods primarily plays soccer, and her debut as a caddy went smoothly. All the players were in covered club wagons when the rain came. Woods said his daughter might go out into the backyard to watch them practice, but she rarely goes to the golf course.
Her mother, Elaine, was watching from outside the ropes.
Woods is playing for only the second time since undergoing ankle fusion surgery in April, is committed to his goal of trying to play once a month in 2024, and is supposed to start at Riviera in February for the Genesis Invitational, where he is hosting the tournament.
Charlie is at Benjamin School, which won the Class A state championship this year. This is one of the few areas in which he outperforms his father — Woods has been outperforming kids in his age group since he was in elementary school, but he was never part of a high school championship team.
“To beat him and get something he doesn’t do feels pretty good,” Charlie said.
This is their fourth time playing in the PNC Championship, their best finish coming two years ago when they were second to Daly & Son. They have seven shots and 10 teams to overcome to win the Willie Park Cup.
Charlie Woods plays the course at 6,576 yards, using tees set up at the ends. It puts him alongside Stricker, Korda, Jim Furyk, and John Daly. This was part of their game that was entertaining. Woods said his son grew by 4 inches, and Charlie said his swing speed exceeded 120 mph.
As for the situation, this did not happen. They have one more day to try to figure it out and see if they or someone else can catch Kuchar and his son.
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When it comes to father-son relationships in the world of sports, two names that come to mind are Kuchar and Woods. Matt Kuchar, a professional golfer, and his son have gained attention for designing and creating three-shot bullets for their golf games. On the other hand, Tiger Woods, a legendary golfer, and his son have been in the spotlight for their efforts to settle a nice family relationship despite the pressures of fame and competition. Both relationships highlight the unique bond that can be formed through a shared passion for a sport and the challenges that come with navigating family dynamics in the public eye.