Bernhard Langer eagled the first tie hole to see off Charlie and Tiger Woods, but it was Padraig Harrington who wore the widest smile of all after son Paddy made his first ace, and they tied for third in the PNC Championship in Florida.
The season-ending event for teams of major winning legends and their family members is hardly the Masters. But it still provided more entertainment than most PGA Tour stops.
The fun began when Charlie Woods (15) holed a 174-yard seven iron for his first competitive ace at the fourth in the 36-hole scramble event at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.
It was a shot that thrilled 15-time major winner Woods, who teamed up with his son to shoot a 15-under 57 that was matched by the evergreen Bernhard Langer (67) and his youngest son Jason.
They tied with the Woods on 28-under before Bernhard’s 15-foot eagle putt on the first extra hole, giving them their fourth win and Dad’s sixth overall.
Team Harrington tied for third with Team Duval and Team Singh, five shots outside the playoff, after a closing 61. But like Tiger, a hole-in-one by Paddy Harrington (21), who holed a six-iron from 183 yards at the eighth, left the senior Harrington as proud as punch.
“I’ve never been so excited in my life,” Harrington said. “It was a great shot, which is nice.
“I know my first hole-in-one wasn’t a spectacularly good shot. That was perfect swing, perfect shot, and when it went in, I’ve never experienced anything like it, the joy of it. Because obviously you can win tournaments and do that, and that’s a different sort of pressure and excitement.
The second ace of the day! 🤯
Paddy Harrington makes a hole-in-one!!
📺: Peacock pic.twitter.com/ElVxK2aWX4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 22, 2024
Paddy Harrington’s first love is rugby, not golf, but he was thrilled, not only with his ace but to contend all week. “I knew it was a good shot, and I was kind of fading it in,” he said. “And then to just see everyone on the back of the green erupt was an unbelievable feeling. I remember looking over at you…”
Dad Harrington replied: “I couldn’t believe it because we see it happen a lot. You hear the noise, and you’re watching; the crowds know, they go berserk, and you go berserk. To be honest, it was a really nice pairing, the O’Mearas. Everybody enjoyed it. I don’t think it could have been a better golfing moment.
“As I said, there was a nice crowd. Everybody was into it, the O’Meara’s, the whole thing. It was perfectly timed.” Charlie Woods’ ace was the first since Shaun O’Meara’s in 2014, and the excitement was so great when Paddy Harrington made his that Harrington Snr got lost in the emotion of it all.
“I was too excited,” Padraig said. “You couldn’t have talked to me. I was gone. This is a great event, and all of it is great. And we try and play well, but that was sheer joy… As I said, I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited on a golf course in my life.”
Paddy looks likely to reappear next year too. “The other fella has big exams next year,” Harrington said of youngest son, Ciaran.
Tiger said: “That was the thrill of a lifetime to be able to have that moment with Charlie, make his first hole-in-one, (daughter) Sam on the bag, just our family and friends. That’s what this event is about. It’s about bonding and family.
“For us to have that experience together, I know we didn’t win, but it was the fact that we competed. No one really made a mistake out there. We had to earn it, and that’s what you want to have. Hats off to Langers. They played amazing.”
Charlie added: “It was awesome having Dad there. That was so much fun. It was just a perfect 7-iron, little cut in there. Of course never got to see it go in. So that sucks. But that’s all right.”
As for his son’s game, Woods said: “He’s gotten better at every facet of the game. That’s a commitment to practicing and developing as a player.
“I think that most of us forget he’s only 15 years old. I know he’s been doing this in front of the media for a long time. “But being only 15, I think it’s incredible what he’s been able to accomplish so far, and the ceiling that he has is unlimited.”
As for Langer’s play, both the Woods were blown away “It’s incredible, right?” Tiger said. :The driver he hit out of the bunker on 14, that was one of the best shots I’ve ever seen.” Charlie added: “Speechless. It was Awesome. He didn’t miss a shot out there.”
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