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ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods and 13-year-old son Charlie weren’t about to let a foul foot and a bum ankle maintain them from enjoying collectively within the PNC Championship. The way in which they performed Saturday, they may even be capable of win it.
The partnership Woods known as “Group Ice Bathtub” due to their accidents, completed with a 13-under 59 within the scramble format, two pictures behind Justin Thomas and his father, membership skilled Mike Thomas.
Group Thomas received the championship belt two years in the past, when Woods first launched Charlie to a nationwide tv viewers on the PNC Championship.
“They rubbed it in our face over Christmas dinner. They’re in an amazing place to presumably do it once more on Christmas dinner,” Woods mentioned. “However we’re going to have somewhat one thing to say about that.”
Even being within the combine, a lot much less the final group, seemed unlikely the best way father and son have been hobbling round The Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership Orlando.
Woods, limping from plantar fasciitis in his proper foot, chipped in for eagle from behind the fifth inexperienced, hit no matter shot was wanted and closed out the entrance 9 with putts of 20 ft and 35 ft.
Charlie’s left ankle harm to the purpose that he dropped to his knees after he topped his tee shot on the par-5 fifth gap. He rode in a cart along with his dad — that is allowed as a result of that is sanctioned by the PGA Tour Champions — and even modified footwear on the observe vary to see if it could assist.
The younger teen contributed a wedge to three ft for his or her first birdie, a 20-footer throughout their massive run once they performed an eight-hole stretch in 9-under par. Charlie completed the spherical with a 6-foot birdie putt, stooping to select up his father’s coin earlier than the ball even went into the cup.
“On some pictures it harm quite a bit. Strolling was powerful,” Charlie mentioned in his first time in entrance of the media at this event. “However it was all proper. It wasn’t that dangerous.”
They nonetheless have to trace down Group Thomas, who delivered two eagles and closed with a birdie from the bunker for a 15-under 57.
Regardless that Vijay Singh and son Qass have been the primary to publish 59, the ultimate group will likely be Woods and Thomas. Charlie referred to it as a “massive household,” as a result of the Thomas household spends loads of time with them at residence. Joe LaCava caddies for Woods and LaCava’s son caddies for Charlie.
“You guys at the moment are seeing what we do on a regular basis at residence,” Woods mentioned about enjoying along with his son. “We simply have enjoyable. We needle one another. We encourage one another. It goes backwards and forwards. It is simply an incredible relationship, and it simply deepens the bond between father and son. It has been unimaginable over time to have the ability to share this stage and this environment with him.”
There’s loads of chirping.
Charlie made a 20-footer on No. 7 and Thomas mentioned to him, “Welcome to the Father-Son,” a reference to the unique event identify and an opportunity to rib him for lastly contributing to the rating.
“We’re simply 4 pals going out and enjoying golf,” Thomas mentioned. “Charlie positively hit his fair proportion of putts fairly laborious at present, so I made certain to remind him of that. He hit some actually, actually good putts and pictures, as effectively, so it was good.”
Woods needed to withdraw two weeks in the past from the Hero World Problem, and he did not look notably sharp in a made-for-TV group match final week.
Aside from the limp, he seemed greater than succesful with a golf membership in hand.
“It is what I have been saying. I can hit the ball, I simply have a harder time getting from Level A to Level B,” Woods mentioned. “I’ve had a irritating couple years. However once more, to have the ability to be part of this recreation and to have the ability to do that, I’ve missed having the ability to compete and play.”
His lone objective going into 2022 was to play at St. Andrews within the one hundred and fiftieth British Open. He wound up enjoying three majors and, “I can play with my son.”
Singh and his 32-year-old son are enjoying for the sixteenth time, their finest end was a runner-up to Group Thomas in 2020. They birdied seven of their final eight holes for a 59.
Woods mentioned he’ll begin engaged on a restoration plan for his proper foot on Monday. For now, he will get one other day along with his son as they attempt to win for the primary time.
“For him to be out right here enjoying, I understand how tough it’s for him,” mentioned Mark O’Meara, who was 4 again enjoying along with his son. “Normally each time you need Tiger to do one thing, simply inform him he cannot do it. And that is normally when he does do it.
“I do not know what the longer term holds, but it surely’s cool that he comes and performs with Charlie.”
DIVOTS: Woods started the spherical by stopping on the tee and providing congratulations to his ex-wife, Elin, on the latest beginning of her baby. Charlie additionally chimed in and Woods smiled and mentioned, “We have to go to work.” … Annika Sorenstam’s 11-year-old son, Will McGee, made a 40-foot birdie putt on the ninth gap. They have been at 62, together with Nelly Korda and her father.
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