ORLANDO, Fla. — Howdy, associates, and pleased Saturday! The lodge I’m staying at is full of households right here to go to Disney World, and I can’t assist however surprise in the event that they know that the actual enjoyable is occurring down the highway on the PNC Championship this weekend. I made my manner over to the golf course good and early this morning (after a fast journey to WaWa) so I may watch a number of the teams heat up earlier than following Crew Woods and Crew Leonard all day. It was a really chilly morning on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership, however nothing this New Englander couldn’t deal with. It received as much as 60 levels by mid-afternoon, which in my humble opinion is the right temperature to observe golf.
OK, let’s get into the motion.
On the vary
The golf world has been blessed with Nelly Korda and Fred {Couples} warming up subsequent to one another on the vary two days in a row on the PNC Championship. I seemed up “tempo” within the dictionary and this video appeared, which is fairly cool.
I may watch {Couples} and Korda hit golf balls all day lengthy. They’re the proud homeowners of two of my favourite golf swings on the planet.
A gaggle of little youngsters was yelling for Korda’s autograph this morning, and as soon as they realized she was nonetheless warming up, they began asking Nelly’s dad, Petr Korda, for his autograph. I overheard them saying, “Thanks, Nelly’s dad!” and I spotted they in all probability didn’t even know they received the signature of a serious tennis champion. To them, Petr Korda is simply Nelly’s dad, not the 1998 Australian Open champion.
John Daly’s warm-up
You understand what they are saying: There’s multiple option to pores and skin a cat. Whereas Korda and {Couples} had full warm-ups on one finish of the vary, John Daly did issues his personal manner down on the different finish. The 2-time main champion took precisely one swing on the vary earlier than deciding he’d had sufficient. Relatable. And his divot sample? Aspirational.
It’s been enjoyable to watch the numerous completely different personalities right here on the PNC this week, and every thing John Daly does is entertaining. Skratch shared some throwback clips of Tiger explaining how he prepares for an occasion versus how John Daly does it, and it’s unimaginable.
The perfect cheer squad on the PNC Championship
I adopted Crew Woods and Crew Leonard for 18 holes right now, and it was a blast. My largest takeaway is that Justin Leonard’s son, Luke, has some critical recreation. I don’t suppose he hit a single dangerous shot all day. His recreation is so, so constant and enjoyable to observe. He’ll play for Villanova College subsequent yr (longtime Rogers Report readers will know that I used to be a Wildcat for a yr and a half) and is at present highschool teammates with Charlie Woods.
Essentially the most enjoyable components of the day got here due to the buddies of Luke Leonard and Sam and Charlie Woods. A handful of their friends from college made the journey as much as Orlando to cheer on their classmates and teammates, and so they saved the vitality excessive all day lengthy. They’d scream, “Go, Lenny!” whereas Luke Leonard walked by and, “Let’s go, JL!” when the 1999 Ryder Cup hero teed off. A handful of the teenage boys carried round footage of Luke Leonard’s face to carry up all all through the spherical, and so they have been essentially the most supportive bunch on the course. Every time Tiger hit a superb shot, they’d yell, “Nice learn, Sam!” and all people inside and out of doors the ropes beloved it. This buddy group was really the spotlight of the spherical, and I believe they helped hold issues free and enjoyable for the gamers and the caddies.
Sam Woods has returned to her caddie gig right here on the PNC
— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) December 21, 2024
One other spotlight of my day was overhearing somewhat back-and-forth second between the Woods siblings, which you’ll take a look at proper right here.
I’m one among 5 siblings, so I’m a professional’s professional in the case of sibling banter. Extra of this on Sunday, please!
Crew Woods and Crew Leonard didn’t interact with the group a lot on Saturday, at the very least not till the 18th tee field. After 17 holes of teeing off second, Justin and Luke Leonard lastly had the honors on the 18th tee. Justin Leonard determined to have some enjoyable with it.
After a day of teeing off second, Crew Leonard lastly has the honors on 18.
“I would like everybody to know that we formally have the honors and shall be teeing off first. I’m gonna soak this in.” pic.twitter.com/bfDSDZO1WW
— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) December 21, 2024
Earlier than teeing off, Leonard walked over to the gallery and mentioned, “Tiger and Charlie have had the honors all day, and I would like everybody to know that we formally have the honors and shall be teeing off first. I’m gonna soak this in.” The group beloved it and Tiger couldn’t assist however snigger.
Total, it was a really entertaining day on the PNC Championship, and I’m wanting ahead to following the ultimate group on Sunday!
