ORLANDO, Fla. — Good day, mates, and welcome to my favourite golf weekend of the 12 months: the PNC Championship! I’ll be on-site all weekend right here on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership to inform you all about the perfect parent-child moments from this occasion. I drove from Palm Seaside to Orlando on Friday morning and made it to the course in time to comply with Tiger‘s second 9. That is the primary 12 months that Tiger and Charlie Woods performed in separate pro-am teams, so whereas I didn’t see too many father-son interactions, I do know there can be loads over the weekend. Group Woods can be teeing it up alongside Group Leonard on Saturday morning, and Tiger and Justin Leonard aren’t the one ones in that group used to taking part in collectively. Charlie Woods and Leonard’s son, Luke, are highschool golf teammates.
Highschool teammates are set to staff up with their dads.
Justin Leonard’s son Luke is happy to pair up with Tiger Woods’ son Charlie within the first spherical of the PNC Championship. pic.twitter.com/C1Hb99IY6K
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 20, 2024
Moments like these remind me simply how completely happy I’m to have grown up in Rhode Island, as a result of there isn’t a likelihood I’d have made a highschool golf staff in Florida. There’s a lot expertise! OK, let’s get into it.
Tiger on the course
The most effective spot on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership (in my humble opinion) is between the ninth inexperienced and the tenth tee field. There’s a small path for gamers, caddies and media to chop by way of, and there’s all the time a wait on the tee field. Whereas a back-up on a tee field is usually seen as a detrimental factor, it’s a nice factor right here on the PNC Championship. When teams overlap, gamers and their households get to work together. Right now, Petr Korda, Tiger and Charlie Woods have been all by the identical tee for a couple of minutes. That is additionally the very spot the place gamers are given lunch. The hen tenders and fries are all the time a scorching commodity right here on the PNC Championship.
It was right here that I met up with Tiger’s group, and I instantly seen that he was the one individual in his group not utilizing a cart. And belief me, I do know Tiger followers might be accused of overhyping in the case of speaking about him, however he appeared spectacular on the market and I imply it. He was strolling with intention, and that intention was to get to the subsequent shot. In the event you’ve seen Tiger tee it up over the previous few years, he would typically begin to limp towards the tip of the spherical and appear like he was avoiding stepping down incorrectly. Not at present, people.
Tiger on the Hero: I’m not match prepared
Tiger at present: strolling the complete spherical, taking part in some realllly good golf
— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) December 20, 2024
Tiger has pushed a cart and let Charlie take the lead throughout pro-ams on the previous two PNC Championships. Right now, he was hitting each shot, chatting as he made his means across the course and lingering on greens to get a number of extra putts in after the remainder of his group headed to the subsequent tee.
And though I didn’t see Charlie hit any pictures at present, it appears to be like like his recreation is in nice form. He performed one group forward of Tiger on the again 9, and Tiger was in full dad mode as he tried to catch a glimpse of how Charlie was taking part in from a gap behind.
The funniest a part of the day got here towards the tip of the spherical, when a man who was dressed up as a sweet cane lastly obtained Tiger’s consideration. Tiger thought it was hilarious and walked proper over to him to signal his costume.
It was the one autograph I noticed Woods signal all afternoon, so there may be a lesson right here about what it takes to get a signature from the 15-time main champion. I’ll allow you to resolve if it’s value it.
Tiger’s jokes
Tiger’s wit was on level on Friday on the PNC Championship. He was in nice spirits, and my favourite second of the day got here when Tiger noticed John Daly and immediately cracked a joke. Woods informed Daly he’d “meet him on the fitness center,” and after hugging, Daly defined that the 2 of them have completely different three-letter phrases: Tiger’s is “g-y-m,” Daly’s is “b-a-r.”
Each time I see previous buddies reunite on the golf course, I like to try Getty Pictures and discover some throwback pictures. I got here throughout this one in all Woods and Daly from the 1997 Memorial Match.
Time flies!
Tiger additionally had some enjoyable throughout his post-round interview, when he answered that his greatest 12 months on Tour was 2000.
“I believe 2000 I used to be good.” He gained 9 instances that 12 months, so I’d must agree.
Tiger talks to the media
Tiger stated lots on Friday on the PNC Invitational, however there have been two major themes. The primary is simply how completely happy he’s to be teeing it up together with his son this week, and the second is that he desires Charlie to be himself and have his personal life.
Tiger was additionally fast to say that whereas Charlie has overwhelmed him in a nine-hole match, it hasn’t occurred in an 18-hole match. A minimum of not but.
“Charlie is Charlie… I simply need him simply to be himself and have him personal life.”
Tiger and Charlie will tee it up for the fifth consecutive 12 months on the PNC Championship on Saturday. 🐅 pic.twitter.com/dQ8GNNr7J5
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) December 20, 2024
Masters Easter eggs
Once I consider the Masters, I often consider springtime. Nevertheless, it seems that they do the vacations fairly nicely at Augusta Nationwide as nicely. Simply once I thought the Masters theme music couldn’t get any higher, I heard the bell choir model of it and was instantly confirmed flawed. The native Augusta Bell Choir practiced the Masters theme music for weeks forward of this video, and their arduous work undoubtedly paid off.
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Not solely does this video have me excited for Christmas (which is sort of the feat contemplating I’ve been in Florida two weeks and preserve pondering its summertime!), it additionally has a handful of Easter eggs that I encourage you all to search for.
Right here’s what yow will discover for those who look intently:
