It won’t give him a winning record on the PGA Tour, but Tiger Woods is on track for another win.
Woods and his son Charlie made their first competitive start since the July Open Championship and teamed up on Saturday in the scramble format at the 13-under 59 PNC Championship to take the first-round lead with the Langers and Singhs.
Tiger and Charlie Woods have played in the PNC every year since 2020, but have yet to win.
“Being able to go through these experiences with Charlie and walk the ropes – we usually banter every day, but this week it’s all about each other,” Tiger said. “We’re just rooting hard for each of us to hit the shot we want.”
The duo (along with Tiger’s daughter, Sam) combined for 13 birdies, including five in a row on the back nine, and did not hit a single shot in the best-ball format at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.
After his sixth back treatment, Woods took his swing without restriction, and if his partner was in trouble, he routinely hit a shot to maintain momentum. Charlie, a high school sophomore, warmed up with the putter mid-round, complimenting some of his dynamic shots.
“I’m a great cheerleader,” Tiger said.
When asked what he had to do on Sunday, Charlie replied: “Just have fun. I feel like this is what I was struggling with; just focus too much on the game. Just have fun and trust.”
PNC is an unofficial team event. Woods, however, is looking for his first victory anywhere since the Zozo Championship in the fall of 2019, the 82nd title of his PGA Tour career.
“We are here,” Tiger said. “There are some teams out there that are at the top. Tomorrow we will have to have another good round.”
