Tall pine trees fall near Masters fans; no injuries

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Tiger and Charlie Woods carded 18 birdies and two eagles across 36 holes at the PNC Championship, but it wasn’t enough for the duo to earn the event’s championship belts for the first time. Team Woods finished 20-under total at Ritz-Carlton GC, good for a T8 finish at the team scramble event. Vijay and Qass Singh won the event at 26-under, marking Team Singh’s first victory in the event after a series of runner-ups and third-place showings. Team Woods has now finished seventh, second and eighth in its first three PNC Championship appearances. Although Tiger and Charlie finished short of their ultimate goal, there were plenty of memorable shots and moments throughout the weekend in central Florida. Here’s a hole-by-hole look at Team Woods’ final round at the PNC Championship. Hole 18 (par 5, 557/500 yards) Charlie pulls driver and executes on an aggressive line, striping it down the left center of the fairway. From 234 yards, he scoots a low burner that narrowly eludes a greenside bunker and skips up to the fringe, 40 feet from the hole. “Where’d it go?” Charlie asks his dad with a smile. “Just get in the cart,” quips Tiger. Tiger’s approach hangs out to the right, settling in the fairway some 40 yards from the hole. Tiger doesn’t hold back on the eagle attempt, as the ball burns the edge with plenty of pace and rolls 8 feet by. Charlie produces a smooth stroke on a good line, but the ball holds up 3 feet short of the hole. Charlie drains the birdie to conclude the week on a positive note. Tiger and Charlie embrace, with hugs exchanged all around between the Woods and Thomas duos. Team Woods, 20-under (7-under Sunday) Winner: Team Singh, 26-under Hole 17 (par 3, 171 yards) Charlie selects 6-iron and plays a high fade that settles on the right side of the green, leaving a lengthy birdie try of some 40 feet. Tiger plays next with a tight draw that doesn’t quite move all the way back, catching the right fringe and settling 30 feet from the flagstick. Playing from Charlie’s ball, Tiger gives the birdie try an aggressive rap but it rolls out 8 feet past the hole. Charlie’s birdie try is on a promising line but pulls up 3 feet short. Both players miss the par putt on the right side, a stinging moment as Team Woods heads to its final hole of the event. Team Woods, 19-under (6-under Sunday thru 17) Leader: 25-under, Team Singh (thru 17) Hole 16 (par 4, 425/375 yards) Tiger stripes a drive down the left side of the fairway that flirts with a fairway bunker but settles a few yards shy, safely in the short grass. Charlie takes driver and strikes it well, but with slightly too much juice, as it finds the fairway bunker. Playing from dad’s position, just 87 yards out, Charlie is less-than-enthused upon impact; the ball leaks right and finds a watery grave. Tiger doesn’t miss a beat though, as his well-struck wedge lands 25 feet past the hole and spins back to within tap-in range. The crowd roars in appreciation. Tiger arrives at the green and cleans it up. Birdie for the Woods duo. Team Woods, 20-under (7-under Sunday thru 16) Leader: 25-under, Team Singh (thru 16) Hole 15 (par 4, 467/423 yards) Playing from a fairway bunker, Charlie goes first from 135 yards. With his dad keenly looking on, Charlie advances it to the front of the green, but leaving a cross-country birdie effort to a back hole location. Tiger takes an aggressive line and delivers, the ball landing soft just long-right of the hole and leaving a 12-foot birdie try. Tiger putts first and produces a smooth stroke, the ball tracking all the way but narrowly missing on the left side, burning the edge. Five strokes off the clubhouse lead (Team Daly) with four to play, Charlie faces essentially must-make territory, but the putt is left the whole way; Charlie walks after it quickly in dismay. Par for Team Woods. Meanwhile, Team Singh makes a tap-in birdie at the par-4 16th to move even further ahead. Team Woods, 19-under (6-under Sunday thru 15) Leader: 25-under, Team Singh (thru 16) Hole 14 (par 5, 565/526 yards) Charlie plays first and pulls driver, uncorking a moon shot that just carries a fairway bunker and finds the short grass, providing Team Woods a chance to give the green a go. Tiger plays next from the back tee and follows suit with a high cut that never leaves the center of the fairway. Team Woods elects to use Charlie’s tee shot, with 217 yards to the flag. Tiger plays first and stares it down with a long iron, but the ball leaks right and catches a greenside bunker. Charlie plays a smart shot to short-right of the green, taking the left-side pond out of play. Charlie opts for wedge on the eagle chip and catches it slightly heavy; the ball stops some 15 feet short of the flag. The same story applies on Tiger’s chip, as the wedge perhaps sticks in the grass to keep the ball from releasing fully. Another 15-foot birdie look. With Team Singh having just made eagle at this hole to move to 24-under, time is running out for Team Woods. Tiger putts first and misses on the right side; Charlie then misses on the left side. A disappointing par for Team Woods at the gettable par 5. Five strokes off the pace with four holes to play. Team Woods, 19-under (6-under Sunday thru 14) Leader: 24-under; Team Singh (thru 14), Team Daly (F) Hole 13 (par 4, 352/317 yards) After a well-struck drive on the short par 4, Team Woods has just 48 yards to the hole for approach. Charlie plays first on a conservative line to the back part of the green, taking the bunker out of play, the ball settling some 30 feet past the hole. Tiger executes a vintage low nipper that lands just 3 feet left of the hole and spins to settle at a similar distance. “A little smile as he walked back to the cart,” observes the broadcast team, and for good reason. Tiger arrives at the green and wastes no time in cleaning up the birdie. Not many holes remain, but Team Woods has no intention of going down without a fight. Team Woods, 19-under (6-under Sunday thru 13) Leader: 22-under; Team Singh (thru 13), Team Daly (thru 17), Team Harrington (F) Hole 12 (par 3, 192 yards) Tiger hoists a mid-iron into the sky and the ball catches the front of the green, leaving a lengthy birdie try of 35 feet or so. Charlie plays next with 8-iron and produces a slight fade that attacks the flag, settling on the left corner of the green just 10 feet from the cup. A strong birdie opportunity for Team Woods, which likely needs to run the proverbial table at this point. Charlie had been putting first throughout the week, but Team Woods changes it up; Tiger goes first this time. The birdie putt tracks toward the cup but tails to the left at the last second. Charlie studies the break and doesn’t miss a beat, draining it center-cut with perfect pace. He provides a smooth fist pump, knowing this birdie was essential to maintain hopes of the championship belts. Team Woods, 18-under (5-under Sunday thru 12) Leader: 22-under; Team Singh (thru 13), Team Daly (thru 16) Hole 11 (par 4, 410/375 yards) Charlie pulls driver and produces a bold strike, but the ball drifts into pine straw off the fairway. It will be a short iron into the green nonetheless. From 130 yards, Charlie plays a smooth shot that safely lands on the front-center of the green, 25 feet from the hole. Tiger plays next with an aggressive line to the back pin, the ball spinning and coming to rest just 12 feet away. A mid-length birdie opportunity for Team Woods. Neither can convert, though, and the duo settles for a less-than-ideal par at this juncture. Team Woods, 17-under (4-under Sunday thru 11) Leader: 22-under, Team Daly (thru 15) Hole 10 (par 4, 387/355 yards) Charlie pulls driver and takes an aggressive line over a waste area, clearing it with ease; the ball bounds down the fairway to leave a flip-wedge in. From just 40 yards, Charlie hoists his approach high but cannot get it to check; the ball releases into a fairway collection area behind the green. Tiger plays a mid-height pitch toward the flag that releases just to the right, leaving an 8-foot birdie try. Charlie putts first and delivers, the ball dropping in the right-center of the cup. Birdie for Team Woods to begin the final nine. They’ll need several more. Team Woods, 17-under (4-under Sunday thru 10) Leader: 22-under, Team Daly (thru 14) Hole 9 (par 4, 453/389 yards) After two solid shots into the green, Team Woods faces 20 feet for birdie from the back of the green. Charlie lags it close, allowing Tiger to putt without fear, and he gives it plenty of pace but rolls it by on the right side. Team Woods trails current leader Team Daly by six strokes at the turn. Last year, Team Woods strung 11 consecutive birdies on Sunday (Nos. 6-17) en route to a runner-up finish, two back of Team Daly. The Tiger-Charlie duo will need some similar back-nine magic in order to contend on the final holes. Team Woods, 16-under (3-under Sunday thru 9) Leader: 22-under, Team Daly (thru 13) Hole 8 (par 3, 215/178 yards) Tiger takes 4-iron and stripes it toward the flagstick; the ball holds a perfect line but settles 20 feet short of the hole. Charlie selects 5-iron and plays a high fade; he leans slightly but the ball lands and stops hole-high, with a makeable birdie look of 15 feet or so. Charlie misses a foot short, right in the heart, and Tiger’s birdie try slides to the right. A slightly disappointing par for Team Woods, five strokes off the pace with 10 holes to play. Team Woods 16-under (3-under Sunday thru 8) Leader: 21-under, Team Daly (thru 12) Hole 7 (par 4, 363/329 yards) Tiger takes driver and is displeased upon impact, the ball sailing into the trees. Charlie finds trouble as well, and the duo faces an uphill battle in hopes of saving par and remaining within striking distance. Playing the third shot from flip-wedge distance, Charlie catches it heavy and the ball catches a greenside bunker short. Tiger plays a low spinner that checks too soon and stops 25 feet short. Team Woods will have some heavy lifting to save par. Charlie misses the par putt right, and Tiger misses it left. Bogey for Team Woods, a potentially devastating occurrence at this juncture. In a slight bit of saving grace, Team Thomas fails to convert on its mid-range birdie look and settles for par. Team Thomas now trails Team Daly, playing five holes ahead, by a stroke. Team Woods, 16-under (3-under Sunday thru 7) Leader: 21-under, Team Daly (thru 12) Hole 6 (par 4, 422/380 yards) Playing from the center of the fairway, 123 yards out, Charlie sees his approach land 15 feet short but catch a ridge and funnel back down the slope to leave a 35-foot birdie try. Tiger tugs his wedge left; it misses the green and settles in the fairway some 40 feet from the hole. Charlie’s lengthy birdie try up the hill starts out right and never turns back left, the ball running out to leave a 4-foot comebacker for par. Tiger plays next and perhaps overcompensates, the ball missing left and running out to leave 3 feet for par. Charlie cleans it up with no problem. Justin and Mike Thomas have 25 feet for birdie. Mike misses but Justin calmly rolls it in, moving Team Thomas into the solo lead by one stroke over Team Singh and Team Daly, and now three clear of Team Woods. Team Woods, 17-under (4-under Sunday thru 6) Leader: 20-under, Team Thomas (thru 6) Hole 5 (par 5, 558/528 yards) Tiger pulls driver and strikes a controlled fade down the center of the fairway, his ball speed recorded at 174 mph. He has been keeping pace with Justin Thomas off the tee throughout the week, a testament to his career-long ability to adapt his swing to accomodate various injuries. Charlie pulls driver and displays a dynamic recoil with the ball flight to match; the ball has plenty of juice and safely finds the left side of the fairway, leaving just 200 yards into the green on the short par 5. Playing his second from the left side of the fairway, Charlie stares it down all the way, but the ball catches a pond just short of the green. Tiger is unfazed, as he launches a high mid-iron that tracks toward the flag and settles just 15 feet short. Justin and Mike Thomas are both off the green, giving Team Woods a chance to cut into the deficit. Charlie attempts eagle first, and he judges it perfectly, the ball starting out right and creeping back toward the center. It falls over the left edge and into the cup as Charlie raises his putter and pumps his fist twice. “I finally made one,” Charlie says with a smile as he exits the green. Team Thomas makes birdie, but Team Woods cuts into the deficit, which is now two. Team Woods, 17-under (4-under Sunday thru 5) Leader: 19-under; Team Thomas (thru 5), Team Singh (thru 6) Hole 4 (par 4, 187/152 yards) Tiger plays first and launches a high mid-iron that finds the left side of the green, some 25 feet from the flag. Charlie plays next with a short iron and is displeased immediately; he displays a one-handed finish as the ball leaks right and catches the greenside bunker. After Justin Thomas finds the bunker, his dad Mike carries the moment with a crisp iron to 12 feet, giving the team yet another birdie opportunity. As per team practice, Charlie putts first. He does not provide enough pace, the ball settling 4 feet shy of the cup. Tiger provides plenty of pace, the ball trying to turn left-ro-right into the hole but just hanging out on the left side. A tap-in par, which matches Team Thomas, as Mike and Justin each see their mid-range birdie attempt slide by. The margin remains three strokes in chase of the leaders. Team Woods, 15-under (2-under Sunday thru 4) Leader: 18-under, Team Thomas (thru 4) Hole 3 (par 5, 529/510 yards) Playing from the right side of the fairway, 228 yards out, Charlie pulls a fairway metal and executes a high fade that catches the right side of the green, leaving 50 feet for eagle. Tiger plays next and launches a high fade with a long iron that safely finds the center of the green, 30 feet for eagle. Not outside the realm of possibility. Charlie putts first, and his eagle try has good pace but slides off a couple feet to the left. Tiger gives his eagle bid plenty of pace and it slides by on the right side, running out 8 feet past the hole — emboldened by Charlie being near tap-in range. Charlie indeed cleans up the birdie. In the meantime, Mike Thomas drains a 15-foot eagle for Team Thomas, extending the duo’s margin to three over Team Woods. Team Daly and Team Singh are one off the pace. Team Woods, 15-under (2-under Sunday thru 3) Leader: 18-under, Team Thomas (thru 3) Hole 2 (par 4, 410/380 yards) Tiger stripes his drive well over 300 yards, leaving a flip wedge from just 72 yards. Charlie leaves his approach short, but dad takes care of things with a high wedge that lands soft and settles within 6 feet. Sporting a red sweater, Charlie putts first and misses on the right side. Tiger studies it intently but also misses the left-ro-right slider on the right side. A disappointing par for Team Woods considering the opportunity, but the silver lining is that Team Thomas makes par as well. Pace is kept. Team Woods, 14-under (1-under Sunday thru 2) Leader: 16-under, Team Thomas (thru 2), Team Daly (thru 6) Hole 1 (par 4, 395/380 yards) Tiger and Charlie arrive on the tee sporting the trademark Woods Sunday red, after exuding confident vibes in their range warm-up. Team Woods finds the fairway to begin the proceedings, and a wedge to 6 feet leaves a short-range birdie try. Charlie putts first and misses, but Tiger handles with no problem. Team Thomas also makes birdie, though, to remain two strokes clear of the Woods duo. Team Woods, 14-under (1-under Sunday thru 1) Leader: Team Thomas, 16-under

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MAMARONECK, N.Y. — This was the Winged Foot everyone has heard about. This is the U.S. Open everyone expected. Patrick Reed answered the first big test Friday when the wind arrived out of the north, bringing a little chill and a lot of trouble. He never got flustered by bogeys and made enough birdie putts and key saves for an even-par 70. It felt just as rewarding as the 66 he shot in the opening round, and it gave him a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau, who powered and putted his way to a 68. The opening round featured soft greens, a few accessible pins and 21 rounds under par. Friday was the epitome of a major long known as the toughest test in golf. Three players broke par. Nine others shot even par. Everyone else was hanging on for dear life. As the final groups tried to beat darkness in this September U.S. Open, only six players remained in red numbers. “It’s almost like they set it up to ease our way into it, and then showed us what it’s supposed to really be like,” Reed said. Television showed his five birdies. What took him to the 36-hole lead at 4-under 136 was a collection of pars from bunkers and from thick grass just over the greens. He managed them all with grit, a common trait among U.S. Open champions. DeChambeau showed plenty of resiliency, too, bouncing back with birdies after all five of his bogeys and finishing the best round of the day with a pitching wedge on the downwind, 557-yard, par-5 ninth to 6 feet for eagle. Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain and Harris English each had a 70 and were at 2-under 138. They were joined by Justin Thomas, who opened with a 65 — the lowest ever at Winged Foot for a U.S. Open — and lost all those shots to par after 10 holes. Thomas then delivered a 5-wood from 228 yards into the wind on the par-3 third hole and made a slick, 15-foot, double-breaking birdie putt to steady himself. He scratched out a 73 and is right in it. Jason Kokrak (71) was the only other player under par at 1-under 139. “This isn’t exactly a place where you go out and try to shoot 6 or 7 under to catch up,” Thomas said. “I’m not going to worry about what everyone else is doing because you could shoot 80 just as easily as you could shoot 68. I just need to stay focused, and most importantly, go home and get some rest. Because I’m pretty tired.” There’s still 36 holes to go, and no indication that Winged Foot is going to get any easier. “The rough is still really thick. I don’t think they’re planning on cutting it,” Matthew Wolff said after salvaging a 74 that left him four shots behind. “The greens are only going to get firmer, and the scores are only going to get higher.” Tiger Woods is among those who won’t be around to experience it. He had a pair of double bogeys at the end of the back nine, and two birdies over his last three holes gave him a 77. He missed the cut by four shots, the eighth time in his last 15 majors he won’t be around for the weekend. “It feels like the way the golf course is changing, is turning, that anybody who makes the cut has the opportunity to win this championship,” Woods said. “I didn’t get myself that opportunity.” Neither did Phil Mickelson, who had his highest 36-hole score in 29 appearances in the one major he hasn’t won. Ditto for Jordan Spieth, whose 81 was his highest score in a major. PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole that cost him a chance to keep playing. Reed turned in a workman-like performance, making birdies when he had the chance, saving par when needed. This is the kind of golf he loves. It’s a grind. And it’s about feel. He was most pleased with his birdie on No. 1 after he made the turn, going with a chip 8-iron from 147 yards into the wind and riding the slope at the back of the green to tap-in range. “I love when it’s hard, when you have to be creative on all different golf shots,” he said. There were plenty of great rounds on such a demanding course, many of which fell apart at the end. Louis Oosthuizen was 3 under in the morning when he finished bogey-bogey-double bogey for a 74. Xander Schauffele was 3 under until he bogeyed three of his last five holes. “The wind can make a par-3 course difficult, so put that on a U.S. Open setup, it’s going to be even more so,” Schauffele said. “It’ll be a fun afternoon to watch on TV.” Rory McIlroy’s problems started early. He was 5 over through seven holes, including a birdie at the start, and shot 76 to fall seven shots behind. Dustin Johnson was bogey-free through 16 holes until a pair of bad tee shots led to bogey. He had a 76 and was in the group at 3-over 143. All of them still feel as though the U.S. Open is in sight. “I’m confident now, after seeing what was out there this afternoon, over par will win this tournament,” Adam Scott said a 74 left him nine shots back. “The greens finally dried out. If there’s any breeze, over par is winning.” It usually does at Winged Foot.

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