“I mean, I drove the ball really good today. Didn’t miss a fairway, and still managed to shoot 8-under. We just suck at putting,” was how Charlie Woods described the opening round for Team Woods at the PNC Championship, and 15-time major winning dad nodded and said “that sums it up right there.”
Playing in the PNC Championship for the fourth time as a pairing, Tiger and Charlie birdied four on the front and four on the back as they posted -8 overall, finishing the day tied for 11th.
The swing speed of the younger Woods was particularly impressive, and had they been a little more dialed in with the wedges and had the putters warmed just a little, they could have been right there on the heels of team Kuchar who stormed to -15 and a three shot lead.
321 yards to the green.
Charlie Woods drives it 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 the green @PNCChampionship 😲 pic.twitter.com/E6Cj8IWCra
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 16, 2023
It was even more of a family affair than usual for Tiger, as daughter Sam made her debut as caddie, taking her place behind the wheel as carts were the order of the day with heavy rain forecast and fast play a necessity.
“Not really, no,” Tiger responded when asked if Sam is getting the golfing bug. “She does her own thing, which is soccer. She’s committed to that.
“As far as golf, no, she really doesn’t. She’ll hang out in the backyard with us every now and again to have fun, but nothing competitive or serious.”
As usual, with a fused back and ankle to match, how Woods swing and ability to walk looked was under scrutiny but, like at the Hero World Challenge a fortnight ago, all was well on that front.
“Yeah, knocking more rust off my game,” was the goal, Tiger explained. “I got better each and every day at the Hero and I’ve got better each and every day I’ve played out here. Granted it’s only been a couple days but still it’s gotten better.
“Having a better understanding of my ankle being fused. I don’t have to deal with the issues that I did with my ankle but again, other parts of my body are starting to ache more just because that’s now fixed.”
Having a son with clear talent and a love for the game has been beneficial to Woods on his latest comeback attempt, providing motivation and a regular sparring partner at their Jupiter home.
“It would be hard to maybe compete and play at this level,” Tiger said when asked if it would be hard to do it without Charlie, “but then again, the enjoyment, I’ve always loved practicing. I just have a lot more fun doing it with him. We have so much fun at home practicing and playing, having games. It’s a special bonding that happens that not a lot of parents get a chance to have.”
For Woods Jnr, his father’s determination to get body and mind back into a competitive frame has been inspirational.
“His persistence,” Charlie explained, “and how he keeps coming back after his back, which I was kind of too young to see, and now with his leg, now I can experience it with him more. I’ve kind of learned how hard it is to come back from injury, and I thought that was pretty cool.”
Tiger batted away questions about any potential Nike deal ending by reiterating that he was still wearing the logo, and questions about Jon Rahm’s decision to join LIV, but did suggest that a December 31 deal for PGA Tour investment was still very much the target.
“As of right now, that is our time frame and our deadline,” he said. “That was set forth back in early June, and that hasn’t changed.”
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