Tiger Woods and son Charlie shine at PNC Championship in Woods’ return to competition
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Tiger Woods made a triumphant return to competitive golf, teaming up with his son Charlie for an exceptional performance at the 2024 PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida. Playing alongside his daughter Sam as his caddie, the duo carded a remarkable 13-under-par 59 in the first round of the two-day event, held at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. This outstanding round placed them atop the leaderboard in a three-way tie for first place.
The tournament, which follows a scramble format, saw Team Woods deliver an almost flawless performance, recording 13 birdies without a single bogey. Tiger and Charlie’s highlight of the day came on the back nine, where they birdied seven of the nine holes. Tiger shared his excitement about being back on the course, telling NBC, “To be out here in this environment and to have fun like this – it doesn’t get any better.”
The PNC Championship, a 36-hole competition featuring 20 major champions and their family members, will conclude with another round on Sunday. For Tiger, the week is more about bonding and enjoying time with his son. “This week is for each other, and we’re just rooting so hard for each of us to pull off each shot that we want,” he said.
This year marks the fifth appearance for Team Woods at the prestigious event. Tiger’s return to golf comes after a successful back surgery in September, a recovery he described as challenging due to the numerous surgeries he has undergone over the years. Since suffering severe leg injuries in a car crash in 2021, Woods has played just 13 PGA Tour events, completing four full rounds only twice. Before the PNC Championship, his most recent competitive outing was The Open Championship in July.
Woods has been candid about the toll that multiple surgeries have taken on his body. “I’ve had a lot of procedures over the course of time,” he said. “I’m not going to feel what I used to feel. And the recovery is going to be on the harder side. I can go for a day here or there, but over the course of rounds, weeks, months, it just gets harder.” Despite these physical challenges, Woods is happy to be back on the course, especially alongside Charlie, who has made great strides in his golf game.
Charlie, now 15, recently achieved a personal milestone by defeating his father in a nine-hole round, though Woods was quick to point out that Charlie has yet to beat him over the full 18 holes. “He has yet to beat me for 18 holes. That day is coming; I’m just prolonging it for as long as I possibly can,” Woods joked. He also noted that Charlie has grown significantly since last year, adding “3.5 to 4 inches in height” and becoming “stronger, faster, heavier.” Woods hopes Charlie will take the lead in driving and putting, while he plays more of a supporting role in the competition.
Tiger has always been supportive of his son’s journey in the sport, offering advice on how to handle the pressure of being in the Woods spotlight. “I just always remind him, ‘Just be you.’ Charlie is Charlie. Yes, he’s my son, and he’s going to have that last name as part of the sport, but I just want him to just be himself,” Woods explained. “We’ll always encourage him to carve his own name, to carve his own path and have his own journey.”
As for how Charlie is managing the pressure, Woods expressed pride in his son’s ability to handle the attention. “I think he’s doing a great job,” he said.
Tiger’s return to competitive golf, particularly at the PNC Championship, is a heartwarming family affair. It highlights not only his resilience after numerous surgeries but also his close relationship with his son Charlie, whose talent and growth continue to impress both on and off the course. As the tournament wraps up, Tiger and Charlie’s performance has captured the hearts of golf fans everywhere, and the Woods family’s shared journey in the sport remains a powerful testament to both their legacy and future in golf.
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