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 mentioned 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 along with his son for the fifth straight 12 months.
That is the primary time they’ve shared the lead after the opening spherical, joined by the final two champions – Bernhard Langer and son Jason, and Vijay Singh and son Qass.
Woods hit an array of fine photographs, together with a wedge to inches on the quick par-4 seventh, however in any other case downplayed his sport by suggesting he nonetheless had loads of rust. This was extra about spending 36 holes on a brisk day on the Ritz-Carlton Membership Orlando along with his son, a sophomore at Benjamin Faculty in North Palm Seashore.
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 attempting to tug off each shot for one another, and to ham-and-egg,” Woods mentioned. “And I feel we did that nice just about all the day. We picked one another up, which was nice. And Charlie made just about a lot of the putts at this time.”
It helped taking part in in the identical group with former British Open champion Justin Leonard and his son, Luke, a senior and teammate with Charlie at Benjamin Faculty.
Langer prolonged his astonishing report on the PGA Tour Champions this 12 months by profitable for an 18th consecutive season. He and his son made eight birdies in a nine-hole stretch in the midst of the spherical, they usually had an eagle on the 14th gap.
Singh and his son, who gained this occasion in 2022, shot 28 on the again 9.
“There’s so many groups within the hunt,” Langer mentioned. “It’s anyone’s sport that’s inside three or 4 photographs of the leaders, which is a lot of the area.”
Padraig Harrington and son Paddy, and Tom Lehman and son Sean, have been at 12-under 60. The Lehmans appeared to be main after they have been across the inexperienced on the par-5 18th, however then it took them 4 photographs to get down within the scramble format, taking bogey.
Having Group Woods within the combine is sufficient to get consideration.
“It’s nice for the event and comfortable for them,” Langer mentioned. “Must be enjoyable for the gang tomorrow to come back out and watch all people play.”
Woods hasn’t competed for the reason that British Open in July.
For Group Woods, it’s a matter of not trying too far forward. The daddy is aware of that each one too effectively along with his record-tying 82 titles on the PGA Tour. The son bought a lesson in that this summer time.
Charlie Woods certified for his first U.S. Junior Beginner, making it to Oakland Hills however not staying very lengthy. He shot rounds of 82-80 and didn’t make it to match play. He additionally fell quick in Monday qualifying for the Cognizant Traditional on the PGA Tour and U.S. Open qualifying.
However he mentioned the U.S. Junior was his largest studying second.
“It’s about specializing in my taking part in,” Charlie mentioned. “I used to be so targeted on profitable and the way I performed that it form of crept into how am I going to win as a substitute of how I’m going to play the shot. And it form of constructed up and that brought about two very, very unhealthy rounds of golf. However stay and study.”
His father listened to the reply and nodded.
“Study,” Woods mentioned.
The PNC Championship is for gamers who gained a serious or The Gamers Championship and a member of the family. Annika Sorenstam is taking part in together with her son, whereas Nelly Korda is taking part in together with her father. Steve Stricker – winner of seven senior majors – is taking part in with daughter Izzy, a freshman at Wisconsin.
Korda dazzled with a fairway metallic out of the sand on the par-5 14th to arrange eagle. Group Korda was 4 photographs behind.
