Tiger finds that intensity and humanity can co-exist at the Masters

Tiger and Charlie Woods will tee it up once again at the PNC Championship this weekend at the Ritz-Carlton GC in Orlando, Florida. This will be their third consecutive appearance at the tournament, which has become one of the marquee events of the fall season. Related: The First Look: PNC Championship While some like to refer to this section of the golf calendar as the “silly season,” there is nothing silly about Tiger Woods teeing it up at this stage of his career, regardless of the context. As many witnessed during the most recent edition of Capital One’s The Match, whenever and wherever Tiger appears on a golf course, it becomes must-see entertainment. This weekend at the PNC Championship alongside his son is poised to be no different. There won’t be any FedExCup points up for grabs, or any OWGR ranking to fight over. Just some of the biggest names in the sport playing golf with their family around the holidays. This event reminds so many of us why we love the game. In preparation for the PNC Championship, we collected some of the most iconic moments over the last two years from Team Woods. Charlie flushes 5-iron off the tee to card Team Woods’ 11th consecutive birdie Team Woods entered the final round of the 2021 PNC Championship tied for fifth, three shots off the lead. While most fans were happy to just see Tiger back on a golf course, the Woods duo were over the simple pomp and circumstance of their mere presence. They were there to win. What followed was a display of superb scramble golf from Charlie and Tiger that included a run of 11 straight birdies starting at the sixth and extending through No. 17. The run was highlighted by Charlie striping a 5-iron to 4 feet on the par-3 17th, tying the lead with John Daly and his college-aged son John Daly II heading to 18. Charlie dropped the putt for the solo birdie, marking 11 straight circles for Team Woods, a tournament record. Charlie hits the iconic walk-in and putter raise It took just four holes into the first round of the 2021 PNC for the moxie of the younger Woods to be on full display for the world. Taking a page out of Tiger’s book of signature celebrations, Charlie walked in a lengthy birdie putt and raised his putter to the sky just like his father has done in some of the biggest moments in the history of golf. That wasn’t the only statement putt from the younger Woods, as he drained a birdie on the par-3 eighth and promptly tossed his marker at dear old dad. Charlie displays trash-talk prowess with clever response to Mike Thomas Tiger Woods isn’t one of the more outspoken figures in golf, but certainly knows how to dish out some clever trash talk. This gamesmanship isn’t lost on son Charlie, who delivered the perfect needle to the team of Justin Thomas and dad Mike Thomas at the 2020 PNC. Mike Thomas, a PGA professional who specializes in coaching junior golfers and has worked with Charlie in the past, left a note for the younger Woods in the middle of the fairway during the pro-am the day before the first round. “Charlie drove one through the fairway and my dad was playing in front of them and he’d hit it into the trees,” Justin Thomas explained. “My dad wrote on a piece of paper ‘draw hole’ and put it under his ball. In typical Woods fashion, he kept the piece of paper, and when my dad hit it in the bunker, he put the exact same piece of paper behind his ball.” Some gall for an 11-year-old to call out a seasoned PGA professional, in front of the TV cameras no less. One could suppose that’s just the natural confidence instilled in someone growing up with an 82-time TOUR winner as a dad. “For some reason, Charlie just always wants to beat me, it doesn’t matter what it is. Although he’s never beaten me in golf or a putting contest, he still talks trash just like his dad. It will be fun,” said Justin Thomas. “We’ll have that inner tournament within a tournament, trying to shut his little mouth up, but it will be fun.” Tiger outdrives Justin Thomas Following the shocking news of Tiger Woods’ car accident in February 2021, questions began to surface asking if the 15-time major champion would ever be able to compete, or even play golf, again. After intense surgery, talks of amputation, and eventually being bedridden to his Florida home for three months, Tiger returned to golf alongside his son at the 2021 PNC Championship. Tiger’s game was limited. A noticeable limp and stiffness in the swing were apparent from the first tee shot. Justin Thomas, playing alongside Team Woods, was determined that a 45-year-old, hobbled Tiger would not outdrive him. That changed on the 11th hole. “I hit it pretty good and as soon as his ball took that big bounce, we looked at each other and I was like, ‘If it’s going to happen, it’s going to be this one because I think it just launched.’ And yeah, that was a shot to the ego,” Thomas said with a smile. Team Woods would go on to birdie the hole, but it was in that moment off the tee that Tiger showed he just might still have what it takes to compete. “It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Nick Faldo said. “To go from fearing that you can’t use your foot to standing, he’s gone through every stage and ticking every box with sheer hard work and amazing determination. Maybe this was a goal. This was a great goal for him to come and play with his boy.” The mannerisms One of the biggest catalysts in the public’s growing interest in Charlie Woods was a video put together following the 2020 PNC Championship, super cutting the similarities in movements and mannerisms between father and son. Where most people share some common traits with their parents, few get to display those characteristics through a shared sport in front of the television cameras. Those who have watched Tiger play over the last three decades were quick to see the eerily similar quirks Charlie has picked up from his dad. The swing. The fist pump. The quick grab of the tee. It’s all there.

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THREE TIED FOR THE LEAD Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, and Matt Kuchar are tied for the lead after 18 holes at The Open Championship. All three opened with rounds of 5-under 65. Click here for Round 1 leaderboard Current scores at #TheOpen: T1. Kuchar -5 Spieth -5 Koepka -5 4. Casey -4https://t.co/hiL0Bw5QZY pic.twitter.com/NYdDXwqAYn— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 20, 2017 RORY’S RECOVERY If scorecards had pictures … pic.twitter.com/dZzaKTUeAw — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 20, 2017 Rory McIlroy carded five bogeys in his first six holes of Round 1 at Royal Birkdale. He’d recover by going bogey-free through his final 12 holes with a back nine that included four birdies for a 32. The 2014 Open Champion finished his day at 1-under (71) and six shots off the lead. Click here for more on Rory’s round WEATHER CENTER The 146th Open Championship teed off in cool temperatures with scattered rains and gusty winds. It ended with sunshine and a slight breeze.  Friday’s weather doesn’t look to be as promising, as there are expected winds of 20-25 MPH, up to 45-MPH gusts, and 90% chance of rain. True Open Championship weather.  Click here for the Weather Hub TAMING ROYAL BIRKDALE Royal Birkdale didn’t show its teeth like it did in Round 1 of the 2008 Open Championship when the first-round leader was only 1-under (winning score ended up being 3-over).  The first-round scoring average this year was 71.92, 1.92 strokes over par. In 2008, the first-round scoring average was 75.88, 5.88 strokes over par. The toughest hole in Round 1 was the par-4 sixth, playing at a scoring average of 4.500. The easiest hole was the par-5 17th with a scoring average of 4.538. Click here for The Upshot DRESSING TO IMPRESS The opening round of The Open Championship brought out the best attire from the closests of the biggest stars. Jordan Spieth showed off his vest game while his buddy Justin Thomas threw it back with the cardigan-tie combo. Meanwhile, Jason Day went his own way with the debut of his Air Jordan 1 golf shoes.  Click here for The Open Style Insider

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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - Tyler Duncan made a 12-foot putt on the second hole of a playoff with Webb Simpson on Sunday in The RSM Classic for his first PGA TOUR title. Playing two groups ahead of Simpson on Sea Island’s Seaside Course, Duncan birdied three of the last four holes in regulation for a 5-under 65. He two-putted the par-5 15h for a birdie, made a 6-footer on the par-3 17th and a 25-footer on the par-4 18th. Simpson birdied 15 and 16 and closed with two pars, making a 5-footer on 18 to match Duncan at 19-under 263. They played the 18th twice in the playoff, matching pars on the first extra hole. Related: Final leaderboard | What’s in Duncan’s bag? The 30-year-old Duncan regained his PGA TOUR card with a 12th-place finish in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals after finishing 163rd in the FedExCup standings. He shot a 61 on Friday. Sebastian Munoz was a stroke back after a 68. Brendon Todd, seeking his third straight PGA TOUR victory, was fourth at 16 under after a 72. He took a two-stroke lead into the final round.

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