Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on Saturday on the 4th gap on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership.
Getty Photographs
Saturday noticed spherical one of many 12 months’s fifth main — additionally doing enterprise because the PNC Championship — and it provided its regular assortment of ‘feels’ that come because of its pro-relative format. We get a little bit of a peek behind the scenes, so to say. There’s Bernhard Langer — and his son! There’s Annika Sorenstam — and her son! There’s Nelly Korda — and her dad! There’s Tiger Woods — and his son! Yeah, they’re at Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership, too, for the fifth-straight 12 months, and seeing the 15-time main winner play for the primary time because the Open Championship in July brings its personal ideas — particularly since Group Woods is tied for the lead.
So, we’ve convened GOLF staffers Claire Rogers and Nick Piastowski to evaluate the play. Claire is on the grounds in sunny Orlando. Nick is at his house within the wintery Northeast.
Nick Piastowski (@nickpia): Hello, Claire! Seems to be a bit cooler at this time, however nonetheless golf climate — so yeah, I’m jealous! What’s the vibe like down there?
Claire Rogers (@kclairerogers): The vibe is GREAT. The climate is ideal, and a LOT of individuals got here out to see Group Woods. From the vary to the 18th inexperienced, there’s a ton of pleasure on the course from the early morning till the final putt drops. The followers and gamers are all equally completely happy to be right here.
Nick: Yeah, I completely obtained that really feel from TV. On 1 for Woods and Woods, it seemed like followers had been five- or six-deep — for about 200 yards down the green. The Friday pro-am seemed fairly nice, too — I particularly loved Padraig Harrington attempting so as to add ball velocity for Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis. It was humorous — and unusually mesmerizing suddenly. OK, let’s get into the golf — and one of many gamers from one of many three co-leading groups: Tiger. What’s your fast takeaway after watching him at this time?
Claire: That he’s in full-on dad mode out right here this week. He’s shifting nicely and hitting some nice pictures, however he’s extra targeted on hanging out together with his children than the rest.
Nick: I’m seeing that. I simply seemed — between him and Charlie, they used the phrase “enjoyable” of their post-round press convention six instances. So possibly they’re! The thought I need to use is Woods seemed in rhythm. The swing, the stroll. Nothing pressured. Balanced. The published analysts mentioned as a lot, too. That each one being mentioned, it’s not just like the PNC is the Masters, or the Ritz-Carlton GC is Oakmont. Ought to we then be inspired, discouraged, or simply wait and see with Woods after at this time?
Claire: Inspired! The course right here is unquestionably flat, nevertheless it’s a protracted stroll. I’m simply checking my steps for the day, and I’m at 16,200 — and all I did was observe Tiger’s group. He’s accomplished that two days in a row and has yet one more forward of him. Final 12 months, he used a cart and relied on Charlie to hit quite a lot of the drives. He hit each shot at this time.
Nick: I just like the phrase inspired, too. Why not? It’s Christmas, proper? Drives down the center are drives down the center, and putts made are putts made. If something, momentum does humorous issues. Then once more, we’ve been overrated like this earlier than so … there’s nonetheless some wait and see, too. All proper, let’s speak about his teammate. Charlie appeared dialed with the putter — although he was a bit exhausting on himself, it appeared. You hear any of that?
Tiger and Charlie Woods co-lead PNC. Stunned? You shouldn’t have been
Claire: Charlie sunk a LOT of putts at this time. I didn’t hear an excessive amount of across the greens, however he undoubtedly talked to his golf ball after a couple of errant pictures on the course. A couple of instances, I heard him mumble “How does that go over there?”
Nick: Yeah, I really feel you, Charlie. All of us marvel that. My favourite Tiger-Charlie second was the interplay on the tee on the par-3 seventeenth, the place Charlie dumped his tee shot into the water, then Tiger adopted with a secure iron to the middle of the inexperienced — then walked again and rapidly tossed one thing towards his son’s chest. Great things. Let’s go fast fire-ish now. Smartest thing you’ve seen this week on the course with the golf?
Claire: Luke Leonard’s sport. He’ll be a freshman at Villanova within the fall, and I don’t suppose I noticed him hit a single unhealthy shot at this time. His sport is so, so constant.
Nick: I’ll go John Daly hitting one vary ball — and declaring himself good to go. Finest/strangest/funniest factor you’ve seen this week, off the course?
Claire: The Woods children and Justin Leonard’s son are at school collectively, they usually had a bunch of classmates and friends come down to look at the motion this weekend. It was superior to see how supportive they had been (a handful of children printed out indicators of Luke Leonard’s face), and I feel it stored the entire gamers and caddies contained in the ropes feeling relaxed at this time.
Nick: For me, I’ll go together with Daly once more and the second on Friday he had with Woods the place he mentioned they each take pleasure in three-letter locations — Woods favored the g-y-m, and Daly favored the b-a-r. Finest ‘awwwww’ household second?
Claire: I noticed Steve Stricker on the vary with each of his daughters at this time and it was such an awesome second to look at. The Leonard household additionally shared a giant group hug after Justin and Luke completed their spherical at this time, which was actually candy.
Tiger Woods greets John Daly at PNC — they usually discuss ‘3-letter phrases’
Nick: Each interview from Will McGee, Annika Sorenstam’s son, will get to me. We may all use a few of that pep. All proper, who wins this factor?
Claire: I feel it’s going to be between Group Woods and Group Langer. If the placing goes nicely for Group Woods tomorrow, I can see them getting it accomplished.
