ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods has by no means had a household outing fairly just like the PNC Championship on Saturday, even within the rain. He was competing together with his 14-year-old son, Charlie, and his 16-year-old daughter, Sam, on the bag as caddie for the primary time.
The one factor lacking was sufficient birdies.
“It could not have been any extra particular for us,” Woods mentioned after the primary of two rounds at The Ritz-Carlton Membership, the place they beat the worst of the rain and fell behind 10 different groups.
Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron led the best way with a 15-under 57, constructing a 3-shot lead over the groups of Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, David Duval and Retief Goosen.
Woods and his son have been at 8-under 64, leaning on Charlie’s booming drives even whereas having to maneuver again a set of tees, with Woods delivering a lot of the strategy pictures and neither changing sufficient birdie possibilities.
“I drove the ball actually good as we speak,” Charlie mentioned. “Did not miss a fairway and nonetheless managed to shoot 8 beneath. We simply suck at placing.”
That prompted Woods to shut his eyes and grin. “That sums it up proper there,” he mentioned.
A lot consideration is on their similarities of their swings and different mannerism, however the needle and the trash speaking is to not be ignored.
Charlie Woods piped a drive on the par-5 fifth gap and waved it goodbye, as Justin Thomas might solely watch and smile. The 14-year-old additionally hit a giant drive on the eleventh, some 65 yards wanting the inexperienced, hit wedge to a couple toes and turned and shrugged.
The PNC is restricted to twenty groups of main champions from any tour, or The Gamers Championship winners, and a member of the family. That is what acquired Steve Stricker (three senior main victories this 12 months) into the sphere for the primary time. He performed together with his youngest daughter, Izzi, as a result of Bobbi Maria had Epson Tour standing this 12 months.
Additionally they had a 64 whereas Izzi performed along with her favourite tour gamers — Nelly Korda — and now will get Woods and son within the closing spherical.
Kuchar, a Gamers Championship winner, has performed with each his sons. Carson is leaning extra towards tennis (Kuchar’s spouse performed at Georgia Tech) and Cameron is all about golf. He not too long ago took a visit to Europe with the household, caddying for his father within the Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship and the Andalucia Masters.
“It has been a enjoyable deal and his development has simply type of been in every single place,” Kuchar mentioned. “You watch the entire sport get higher, whether or not it is off the tee, he has a bonus with size and irons are nice. I feel anyone that sees him with a wedge in his hand comes away impressed. He is acquired an excellent brief sport.”
Singh and Duval try to win the PNC Championship for the second time. John Daly and his son, who performs at Arkansas, received it two years in the past. They have been 4 pictures behind.
Sam Woods primarily performs soccer, and her debut as a caddie went easily. All gamers have been in carts that had covers for the golf equipment when it rained. Woods mentioned his daughter may come out to the yard at house to look at them observe, however hardly ever will get to the golf course.
Her mom, Elin, watched from outdoors the ropes.
Woods is taking part in for less than the second time since having ankle fusion surgical procedure in April, and he is sticking to his aim of attempting to play as soon as a month in 2024, presumably beginning at Riviera in February for the Genesis Invitational, the place he’s the event host.
Charlie is on the Benjamin College, which received the Class A state championship this 12 months. That is one of many few space that he’s 1 up on his father — Woods romped over the children in his age group since he was in elementary college, however was not a part of a highschool championship workforce.
“Having a win over him and having one thing he does not, it feels fairly good,” Charlie mentioned.
That is their fourth time taking part in within the PNC Championship, their finest end coming two years in the past once they have been runner-up to Daly and his son. They’ve seven pictures and 10 groups to get previous to earn the Willie Park Trophy.
Charlie Woods is taking part in the course at 6,576 yards, utilizing tees one arrange from the information. It places him alongside Stricker and Korda, Jim Furyk and John Daly. That was one a part of their sport that was entertaining. Woods mentioned his son has grown 4 inches, and Charlie mentioned his swing velocity has gotten previous 120 mph.
As for the placing, that did not come round. They’ve one other day to attempt to determine that out and see in the event that they or anybody else can catch Kuchar and his son.
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