ORLANDO, Fla. — Good day, associates, and welcome to my favourite golf weekend of the yr: the PNC Championship! I’ll be on-site all weekend right here on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership to let you know all about the very best parent-child moments from this occasion. I drove from Palm Seashore to Orlando on Friday morning and made it to the course in time to observe Tiger‘s second 9. That is the primary yr that Tiger and Charlie Woods performed in separate pro-am teams, so whereas I didn’t see too many father-son interactions, I do know there might be loads over the weekend. Group Woods might be teeing it up alongside Group Leonard on Saturday morning, and Tiger and Justin Leonard aren’t the one ones in that group used to taking part in collectively. Charlie Woods and Leonard’s son, Luke, are highschool golf teammates.
Highschool teammates are set to staff up with their dads.
Justin Leonard’s son Luke is worked up to pair up with Tiger Woods’ son Charlie within the first spherical of the PNC Championship. pic.twitter.com/C1Hb99IY6K
Moments like these remind me simply how completely satisfied I’m to have grown up in Rhode Island, as a result of there isn’t a probability I might have made a highschool golf staff in Florida. There’s a lot expertise! OK, let’s get into it.
Tiger on the course
One of the best spot on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership (in my humble opinion) is between the ninth inexperienced and the tenth tee field. There’s a small path for gamers, caddies and media to chop by means of, and there’s at all times a wait on the tee field. Whereas a back-up on a tee field is commonly seen as a detrimental factor, it’s a nice factor right here on the PNC Championship. When teams overlap, gamers and their households get to work together. At the moment, Petr Korda, Tiger and Charlie Woods have been all by the identical tee for a couple of minutes. That is additionally the very spot the place gamers are given lunch. The rooster tenders and fries are at all times a scorching commodity right here on the PNC Championship.
It was right here that I met up with Tiger’s group, and I instantly observed that he was the one particular person in his group not utilizing a cart. And belief me, I do know Tiger followers will be accused of overhyping with regards to speaking about him, however he seemed spectacular on the market and I imply it. He was strolling with intention, and that intention was to get to the following shot. For those who’ve seen Tiger tee it up over the previous few years, he would generally begin to limp towards the top of the spherical and seem like he was avoiding stepping down incorrectly. Not as we speak, of us.
Tiger on the Hero: I’m not event prepared
Tiger as we speak: strolling the complete spherical, taking part in some realllly good golf
Tiger has pushed a cart and let Charlie take the lead throughout pro-ams on the previous two PNC Championships. At the moment, he was hitting each shot, chatting as he made his manner across the course and lingering on greens to get a couple of extra putts in after the remainder of his group headed to the following tee.
And though I didn’t see Charlie hit any photographs as we speak, it appears like his sport is in nice form. He performed one group forward of Tiger on the again 9, and Tiger was in full dad mode as he tried to catch a glimpse of how Charlie was taking part in from a gap behind.
The funniest a part of the day got here towards the top of the spherical, when a man who was dressed up as a sweet cane lastly bought Tiger’s consideration. Tiger thought it was hilarious and walked proper over to him to signal his costume.
It was the one autograph I noticed Woods signal all afternoon, so there is perhaps a lesson right here about what it takes to get a signature from the 15-time main champion. I’ll allow you to determine if it’s price it.
Tiger’s jokes
Tiger’s wit was on level on Friday on the PNC Championship. He was in nice spirits, and my favourite second of the day got here when Tiger noticed John Daly and immediately cracked a joke. Woods advised Daly he’d “meet him on the health club,” and after hugging, Daly defined that the 2 of them have totally different three-letter phrases: Tiger’s is “g-y-m,” Daly’s is “b-a-r.”
At any time when I see outdated buddies reunite on the golf course, I like to try Getty Photos and discover some throwback images. I got here throughout this one among Woods and Daly from the 1997 Memorial Match.
Time flies!
Tiger additionally had some enjoyable throughout his post-round interview, when he answered that his finest yr on Tour was 2000.
“I feel 2000 I used to be good.” He received 9 instances that yr, so I’d should agree.
Tiger talks to the media
Tiger mentioned rather a lot on Friday on the PNC Invitational, however there have been two predominant themes. The primary is simply how completely satisfied he’s to be teeing it up together with his son this week, and the second is that he desires Charlie to be himself and have his personal life.
Tiger was additionally fast to say that whereas Charlie has overwhelmed him in a nine-hole match, it hasn’t occurred in an 18-hole match. No less than not but.
“Charlie is Charlie… I simply need him simply to be himself and have him personal life.”
Tiger and Charlie will tee it up for the fifth consecutive yr on the PNC Championship on Saturday. 🐅 pic.twitter.com/dQ8GNNr7J5
After I consider the Masters, I often consider springtime. Nonetheless, it seems that they do the vacations fairly properly at Augusta Nationwide as properly. Simply once I thought the Masters theme tune couldn’t get any higher, I heard the bell choir model of it and was instantly confirmed flawed. The native Augusta Bell Choir practiced the Masters theme tune for weeks forward of this video, and their onerous work positively paid off.
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Not solely does this video have me excited for Christmas (which is sort of the feat contemplating I’ve been in Florida two weeks and maintain considering its summertime!), it additionally has a handful of Easter eggs that I encourage you all to search for.
Right here’s what you’ll find in case you look carefully:
