Tiger's cub wows at PNC Championship
Tiger Woods of the United States and Charlie Woods react on the third green during the first round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando on December 19, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
It’s all about having fun but it appears Tiger Woods’ son Charlie has inherited his father’s ability to give the needle too.
The 11-year old not only hit a series of wonderful shots in the PNC Championship — the Woods shot a 10-under 62 in the scramble format to lie tied 10th, four shots behind the Kuchar’s heading into the final round — but he also got a chance to give Justin Thomas and his father Mike some grief.
Eagle for Team Woods. 🦅
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 19, 2020
-3 thru 3. 👀 pic.twitter.com/mtxecAh5k5
As Cameron Morfit reported for PGATour.com:
Saturday, which brought warmer temperatures, did not disappoint, and what happened at the dogleg-left, par-4 13th hole said it all. With Team Thomas having hit, Charlie, way ahead, uncorked a gem. He walked down the fairway without looking back, and Tiger shrugged and walked off the way-back tee without bothering to hit. How could he top that?
Some PNC employees and friends laughed, and Charlie spun around.
“Like that?” he said.
He marched toward his ball, which had settled short of a greenside bunker, but made a detour to Mike’s ball, which had not drawn enough and found the right fairway bunker. Justin was the first to that ball and bent down to check the lie. “Charlie left you a note,” he said.
They read it. “Draw hole,” Mike said. He and Justin laughed.
“Payback is hell,” Mike said.
Woods was simply thrilled to see his son enjoy himself as ESPN’s Bob Harig reported:
"The idea was to make sure we had fun,'' Tiger said after a 62 in the scramble format left them four shots behind the leaders, Matt Kuchar and his 13-year-old son, Cameron.
"Just making sure we had fun. I think he did,'' Tiger said of his Charlie. "He enjoyed being out there. The fact we got off to such a quick start, him hitting some of those incredible shots. And he carried it from the range to the golf course. That's different from playing at home to playing tournament golf.''
Of course, all were keen to remind themselves and us that he’s an 11-year old child
"He's special,'' said Justin Thomas, who often plays with Tiger at home while in South Florida and has seen plenty of Charlie. "He's got game. Competitiveness. But he's just so young. I just hope he keeps enjoying it.''
Pádraig and Paddy Harrington made a slow start but responded with six birdies for a three-under 69.
