ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods and 15-year-old son Charlie ran off 5 straight birdies on the again 9 Saturday for a 13-under 59 within the scramble format, giving them a share of the lead within the PNC Championship in Woods’ first competitors since again surgical procedure in September.
Woods stated he scheduled that surgical procedure — the sixth on his decrease again within the final 10 years — to make sure he recovered in time to play together with his son for the fifth straight 12 months.
This is the primary time they’ve shared the lead after the opening spherical, joined by the earlier two champions — Bernhard Langer and son Jason and Vijay Singh and son Qass.
Woods hit an array of fine pictures, together with a wedge to inches on the quick par-4 seventh, however in any other case downplayed his recreation by suggesting he nonetheless had a variety of rust. This was extra about spending 36 holes on a brisk day on the Ritz-Carlton Club Orlando together with his son, a sophomore at Benjamin School in North Palm Beach.
His daughter, Sam, caddied for her father for the second straight 12 months. Their mom, Elin, was amongst these within the gallery in a event that’s all about household.
“We’re making an attempt to drag off every shot for one another, and to ham-and-egg,” Woods stated. “And I feel we did that nice just about your complete day. We picked one another up, which was nice. And Charlie made just about a lot of the putts immediately.”
It helped enjoying in the identical group with former British Open champion Justin Leonard and his son, Luke, a senior and teammate with Charlie at Benjamin School.
Langer prolonged his astonishing document on the PGA Tour Champions this 12 months by successful for an 18th consecutive season. He and his son made eight birdies in a nine-hole stretch in the midst of the spherical, and so they had an eagle on the 14th gap.
Singh and his son, who received this occasion in 2022, shot 28 on the again 9.
“There’s so many groups within the hunt,” Langer stated. “It’s anyone’s recreation that’s inside three or 4 pictures of the leaders, which is a lot of the discipline.”
Padraig Harrington and son Paddy, and Tom Lehman and son Sean, had been at 12-under 60. The Lehmans main after they had been across the inexperienced on the par-5 18th, however then it took them 4 pictures to get down within the scramble format, taking bogey.
Having Team Woods within the combine is sufficient to get consideration.
“It’s nice for the event and comfortable for them,” Langer stated. “Should be enjoyable for the gang tomorrow to come back out and watch all people play.”
Woods hasn’t competed because the British Open in July.
For Team Woods, it is a matter of not trying too far forward. The father is aware of that each one too properly together with his record-tying 82 titles on the PGA Tour. The son acquired a lesson in that this summer time.
Charlie Woods certified for his first U.S. Junior Amateur, making it to Oakland Hills however not staying very lengthy. He shot rounds of 82-80 and did not make it to match play. He additionally fell quick in Monday qualifying for the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour and U.S. Open qualifying.
But he stated the U.S. Junior was his greatest studying second.
“It’s about specializing in my enjoying,” Charlie stated. “I used to be so centered on successful and the way I performed that it sort of crept into how am I going to win as an alternative of how I’m going to play the shot. And it sort of constructed up and that brought on two very, very dangerous rounds of golf. But stay and be taught.”
His father listened to the reply and nodded.
“Learn,” Woods stated.
The PNC Championship is for gamers who received a significant or The Players Championship and a member of the family. Annika Sorenstam is enjoying together with her son, whereas Nelly Korda is enjoying together with her father. Steve Stricker — winner of seven senior majors — is enjoying with daughter Izzy, a freshman at Wisconsin.
Korda dazzled with a fairway steel out of the sand on the par-5 14th to arrange eagle. Team Korda was 4 pictures behind.
