Charlie Woods and his dad, Tiger, were back on the course together on Friday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. The father-son duo is set to compete in this weekend’s PNC Championship for the third time and kicked things off with the Pro-Am.
They arrived in style wearing matching sweaters, black pants and black hats.
After getting to the course, Charlie and Tiger hit the driving range. The younger Woods’ swing is a thing of beauty, just as his father’s was and is.
Charlie, who is only 14 years old, out-drove Tiger earlier this year. As a result, he is playing from the third-longest tees at the event, which also features an 11-year-old and an 87-year-old.
In addition, Charlie rolled his ankle on the driving range and was clearly playing through the injury.
“His ankle’s not exactly — well, it’s better than mine,” Tiger joked during the post-round press conference. “We’ll be ready come game time tomorrow.”
Neither the lengthy tees nor the ankle injury stopped Charlie from smoking the ball.
Even as the day went on, Charlie’s injured ankle led him to look just like Tiger, who continues to recover from a near-fatal car accident in February of 2023. While it was purely coincidental, the way that Charlie reacted to the ankle injury during his backswing was nearly identical to his dad on the back nine of his third round at Augusta back in April.
The same can be said for their visible limps.
Every single thing that Charlie did on the course was just like Tiger. The apple does not fall far from the tree and even the elder Woods said that he can’t believe how similar they are sometimes.
Amidst all of the injuries, cameras and chaos, Tiger and Charlie were simply out enjoying a father-son round of golf and it was really fun to watch. As the two played out their afternoon, a cool moment was captured on camera.
Tiger filmed Charlie during his drive and took the opportunity to teach him a thing or two about how he can improve. To get such an up-close and personal glimpse at their relationship was pretty special.
Team Woods will tee off last at the PNC Championship on Saturday. They will be paired with Justin Thomas and his father Mike when they take the first tee at 12:17pm ET.
We have witnessed the bonding and skills of Tiger Woods and his son Charlie on the golf course in a blend of experience and youthful energy. Even at the age of 14, Charlie’s golf skills are evident and applauded widely. If he continues at this rate, he could end up just as impressive as his dad in the world of golf.
But, there’s a fresh father-son duo making waves in the golf world: the LIV defector and his budding golfer son at an international event. It isn’t just about watching a golf match; it was about seeing a father and son share the same field, playing the game they both love.
Father-son duo takes the course together
The International Series golf event in England boasting a prize pool of $2M, got a special touch with Ian Poulter and his son Luke Poulter both playing a strong game together. Ian has made quite the name for himself in golf, especially from his Ryder Cup days and being a part of LIV Golf. But this tournament is special because he’s not just playing for himself, he’s watching his son Luke step up.
Luke is just 19 years old and is part of the University of Florida’s golf team. This is Luke’s debut in professional golf. There was a moment when it seemed Luke wouldn’t make the cut. But after hitting some really good shots with his dad cheering on the side, he finally made it through.
On Saturday, both father and son played hard. Ian finished with a score over par, while Luke did even better, finishing under par. Mike McAllister, the golf editor, shared an update on social media about the Poulter father-son team at the International Series in England. Ian Poulter, the experienced golfer, had scores of 69 and 70, putting him in a close race tied for 8th at three under par.
His son, Luke, didn’t have it easy with scores of 72 and 73, but he pulled through. On his last three holes, Luke managed an eagle, a birdie, and a par, getting him right on the cut line at three over. It’s clear both Poulter men brought their A-game to the event.
There were other father-son teams too, with the likes of Lee Westwood and his son Samuel. But Samuel didn’t manage to move to the next round. Lee did, but he had a tough day on Saturday. Davis Love III’s son, Dru, was also seen playing alongside his dad, but didn’t make it through.
It’s more than just golf
Tiger Woods teamed up with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes in Florida in 2021. This was the first time Tiger played since his car accident in February. The father-son duo played really well, but ended up finishing second, with John Daly and his son taking home the win.
But, the Poulter duo seems to be catching everyone’s attention. Their skills on the green are evident, and the way they back each other is heartening. Winning and losing the game doesn’t matter, this duo gives inspiration to many father-son duos. Seeing a dad and son play together and root for each other is different from the usual tough golf matches. This game reminds us that sports go beyond just the scoreboard. It’s about the good times, the tough bits, and your family.
There’s no denying that whether he can win or not (it’s obviously more of the latter these days), Tiger Woods is the main attraction at every golf tournament he plays. Well, almost every one, anyway, as his son, Charlie Woods, overshadows his old man once a year at the PNC Championship, the annual exhibition that features pros teaming up with a family member for a fun 36-hole shootout.
And since Charlie made his debut at the event in 2020, he’s become an absolute star. While he may not be as good as Tiger was at that age, the soon-to-be 14-year-old has got plenty of game.
And let’s get real here. While Tiger was certainly well-known as a youngster, Charlie is much more famous than his dad was at that age. For one, times are just different, and there’s so much more media these days. And secondly, Charlie’s dad is a bit more famous than was Tiger’s. With no offense to the late Earl Woods, he wasn’t one of the most popular and recognizable athletes of all time.
With Charlie’s game developing, there has obviously been plenty of talk about his future in professional golf — if he chooses that path, that is. But he’s years away from even being eligible to attempt a career on the PGA Tour.
However, with NIL dollars now being a thing for amateur athletes, it’s not as if Charlie can’t make any of his own money before pursuing a pro career — again — if that’s what he decides to do. And it’s not that the younger Woods needs money, given that his famous father is one of the wealthiest athletes in history.
But if he wants to make his own cash, young Charlie will have to choose not to play golf in high school.
Why Charlie Woods can’t make NIL money if he plays high school golf
Like the amateur relatives of other famous athletes, specifically Arch Manning or Bronny James, Charlie Woods will likely receive plenty of lucrative NIL offers, perhaps even in the seven-figure range, when he’s eligible. And that day is coming soon as he’s set to start high school next year
Sam Weber, the senior communications director at NIL platform Opendorse, believes many of Tiger’s current sponsors, including Nike, could make offers to capitalize on the famous father-son connection. But there’s a catch.
If Charlie chooses to play golf for his high school team, he wouldn’t be eligible to earn any cash as Florida law doesn’t allow high school athletes to accept NIL money. However, with several junior golf circuits out there these days, the younger Woods has more options than your typical high-school golfer.
So Charlie will have a choice to make, as will Tiger. While he obviously doesn’t have a problem allowing his son to be in the public eye once a year at the PNC, he may not want — or allow — Charlie to accept these inevitable NIL offers anyway. Woods is famously a very private person and may not want to subject Charlie to the pitfalls that come with fame, especially at such a young age.
And, again, it’s not like the Woods family is hurting for money.
So just as it goes with everything else relating to Charlie Woods, we’ll just have to wait and see how this all plays out.
Have thoughts on this topic? Keep the conversation rolling in our comments section below.
The PNC Championship this weekend will be a fun watch for golf fans. Not only do we get to see Tiger Woods tee it up for the second week in a row, we also get a rare look at the game of his son, Charlie.
Charlie’s talent on the course came into the public eye for the first time a couple of years ago, when it was revealed he was already dominating youth golf tournaments in Florida at the age of 11. His swing has only gotten better since then, with many drawing comparisons to the silky move of world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
So how has Charlie been faring in competition? Here’s a look at his tournament placings and rankings as he continues his golf career.
Where does Charlie Woods play golf?
Charlie’s tournament appearances come mostly on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and in Junior PGA South Florida events. According to the tours’ websites, he has entered a total of eight competitive tournaments in 2023. He also teed it up at the Notah Begay III Boys’ Jr. Golf National Championship last month.
This will also be the third time he has teed it up at the PNC Championship with his dad. In 2020, the father/son team finished seventh with a score of 20 under par. Last year, they made 11 straight birdies on Sunday to finish as runners-up (25 under) to John Daly and his son, John Daly II (27 under).
Charlie Woods ranking
Charlie is tied for 48th on the season-long Hurricane Junior Golf Tour points list in the Boys’ 11-14 age group. It’s important to note he has only entered four tour events this year. In those events, he has finished second, tied for first, 10th and first.
On the Junior PGA South Florida tour, he competes in the much more challenging Boys’ 13-18 age group. In the events he has played in this year, he has finished tied for 22nd, tied for 40th, tied for 23rd and tied for 28th.
In the Notah Begay III Boys’ Jr. Golf National Championship, he finished tied for 11th in the boys’ 12-13 age group.
Charlie Woods 2023 golf scores on Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, other events
Here’s a look at Charlie Woods’ scores in each of the tournaments he has entered this year:
Hurricane Junior Golf Tour
Event
Date
Score (to par)
Place
Disney Junior Open
Feb. 5-6
75-72 = 147 (+3)
2nd
South Florida Junior Open
Feb. 23-24
74-78 = 152 (+8)
T-1st
PGA National Junior Open
April 24-25
82-80 = 162 (+18)
10th
Major Championship
June 5-6
72-73 = 145 (+1)
1st
Junior PGA South Florida
Event
Date
Score (to par)
Place
Medalist Tour – Plantation Preserve
June 1-2
77-77 = 154 (+10)
T-22nd
Nicklaus Junior Championship
June 18-19
83-75 = 158 (+15)
T-40th
SFPGA Labor Day Classic
Sep. 3-5
76-78-78 = 232 (+16)
T-23rd
Medalist Tour – PGA National Estates
Sep. 10-11
78-77 = 155 (+11)
T-28th
Notah Begay III Boys’ Jr. Golf National Championship
With the name ‘Woods’ the great Tiger’s son Charlie was always going to be tipped for success, and the 14-year-old has more than lived up to the billing after breaking onto the scene at the PNC Championship
Being the child of arguably the greatest golfer to ever play the game was always going to come with plenty of pressure, but 14-year-old son of Tiger Woods, Charlie, has more than lived up to the billing.
There is not a more recognisable name than Tiger’s in the game of golf. With 82 PGA Tpour titles, 15 major championships and a whole host of records, Woods has taken the game to new heights over the past 25 years.
Inevitably though, when the golfing great welcomed his first son Charlie into the world the question on everybody’s lips was ‘is this the next Tiger Woods?’ Quite rightly, Woods has kept the progress of his son private for the majority of life, keeping any pressures that predictably landed off the 14-year-old’s shoulders.
It has only been in the last two years that the 82-time PGA Tour winner has shown the golfing world what his son can do, and what a treat it has been. Speaking in 2020 Woods revealed he and his son had began to start playing consistently with each other out on the course during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Discussing his son’s progress, but keeping his cards close to his chest, the 15-time major winner told Golf TV: “He’s starting to get into it, he’s starting to understand how to play. He’s asking me the right questions. I’ve kept it competitive with his par, so it’s been just an absolute blast to go out there and just, you know, be with him. It reminds me so much of me and my dad growing up.”
Charlie burst onto the scene in 2020 when featuring in the PNC Championship at the father-son competition alongside dad Tiger. The then 11-year-old left golf fans in awe, as he effortlessly mirrored his dad in all areas including their outfits, mannerisms and golf game. In 2020 the Woods duo finished in seventh in the PNC standings, an admirable finish with an 11-year-old on the card.
A year later, Charlie and dad Tiger came back bigger and stronger and once again stole the show at the father-son event. There were fears that Team Woods were going to miss the event due to injuries sustained by Tiger in a car crash earlier that year.
However, the PNC Championship proved to be the American star’s return, and what better way to do it than alongside his prodigy son. The Woods pairing agonisingly missed out on the title by just two shots, finishing in second behind John Daly and his son John Jr.
The Florida-based event returns this weekend, and there is no doubt Tiger and Charlie will be out to go one better this time around. And this may be their best chance yet, with the youngster’s golf game going from strength to strength. Charlie recently shot his best ever round, carding a four-under-par 64 to secure a place in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship with dad Tiger on the bag.
But arguably the biggest achievement in the 14-year-old’s incredible rise has been finally outdriving his legendary dad off the tee. Throughout his career, Woods has been known to strike a large ball, with his biggest hit on Tour measuring at a whopping 498 yards back in 2002.
Whilst the 2019 Masters champion is not finding the distance he once did as a younger and fitter player, his length off the tee is still impressive, but 14-year-old Charlie seems to be already battling to match it. Speaking at ‘The Match’ between himself and Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, he admitted the youngster finally out-did him off the tee.
Woods commented: “I hate to say it, but I’m going to admit it. He [Charlie] finally did it [outdrove me] a few weeks ago. I spun one, he tomahawked one and got me.”
Tiger’s admission will have only excited fans even more ahead of this week’s event, and this distance has been recognised by tournament organisers, who have moved the youngster two tees further back from where he hit from last year, according to the Golf Channel.
Matt Kuchar stood on the first tee before the final round of the 2021 PNC Championship and beamed with joy as his 15-year-old son Cameron tried to keep from jumping out of his skin at being paired with Tiger Woods and son Charlie.
“My son may be the last of his generation, of his age, to play alongside Tiger Woods,” Kuchar said. “I don’t know many kids younger than 15 that will get to play with Tiger in a competition. It’s pretty cool.”
One year later, Kuchar still marvels at the experience and the broader implications of quality family time.
“Watching Charlie get into the game makes Tiger just look that much more human,” he said. “Seeing the dad side, the pride of watching his son play and play well. Everyone watching at home can relate.”
When Tiger was running roughshod over the competition, capturing 15 majors and 82 PGA Tours titles and owning the No. 1 ranking seemingly in perpetuity, he never really let us in. He was loved and respected for his otherworldly abilities but never beloved in the way that Arnold Palmer was forever approachable. Tiger always kept everyone at arms-length. That changed as he mounted his comeback from back trouble and got more involved in the team room in international team competitions and forged relationships with the likes of Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy. No doubt, Tiger has been humbled, but nothing has humanized Tiger more than simply seeing him be a dad at the PNC Championship.
“It’s the third straight year he’s played (the PNC). Can you name any other tournament that that’s the case? I don’t know if there is one that he’s played in the last three straight years?” Stewart Cink said. “I mean that says a lot about what this tournament means to all of us playing; that Tiger Woods would play here three consecutive years considering what he’s gone through.”
All eyes again return to Tiger and Charlie this week at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club for the two-day 36-hole team event that uses a two-person Scramble format.
“The last couple years have been magical. And to be able to do it again, we’re looking forward to it,” Tiger said.
The pent-up demand to see Tiger is evident in a tournament sell out. Grown men dressed in their red golf shirts and black pants and some even showed up in Tiger onesies. As much as there is intrigue over Tiger’s game, this week he takes a backseat to Charlie. He’s the main attraction. Padraig Harrington said it best when asked whether he would be watching Tiger or Charlie: “Charlie. Charlie. Actually, to be honest, definitely Charlie, Charlie, Charlie…I’m more interested in Charlie.”
So is just about everyone else.
“Nothing wrong with that,” Tiger said. “As long as the people are excited about coming out here and supporting us and supporting all the legends and the people who are in this event, it’s always special.”
This is where Charlie made his first eagle while having his coming out party at age 11. He hit a growth spurt, and the change in his body from a year ago is startling. He shot a career-low 68 at a qualifier for the Notah Begay III Junior National Golf Championship in late September and Tiger recently confirmed that Charlie outdrove him but has yet to beat him. Earlier this week, there was some debate over which tee (and distance) he should play – he’ll be two tees up from his dad at 6,405 yards.
“Is Charlie carrying it 260 or 290?” Shawn Spieth wondered. “Everybody wants to know which one it is.”
Harrington praised his swing.
“Most kids who are good at 11, 12, 13, 14 years of age, their swing hasn’t even come close to developing,” Harrington said. “I bet you if you went back and looked at Rory at 12 years of age, he was hitting a big loopy, drop kick [draw] because that’s what kids do. But Charlie has always managed to pressure the golf ball, which is exceptional at that age. It really is.”
Imagine the pressure to follow in giant footsteps. As if we needed a reminder that he’s still a kid, Charlie wore a Snoopy-logoed hat on Friday. Let’s just enjoy that Charlie loves the game. He has got three top-25 finishes this year on the South Florida Junior Tour and shows promise, but please, no comparisons to Tiger, who already was re-writing the record book in junior golf at this age.
On Friday, Charlie looked uncomfortable as if he was fighting his swing. He dropped his club in dramatic fashion repeatedly and tried to mimic different positions for his swing. But at the end of the round, he hugged his father and smiled knowingly that it is the next two days that count. Paired on Saturday with Justin and Mike Thomas, who Tiger referred to as “extended family,” neither Tiger nor Charlie have forgotten that the Thomases showed up to Christmas dinner wearing their champion’s belts in 2020.
“We didn’t like it,” Tiger said.
When asked what it would mean to win a title with his son, Tiger gave a classic non-answer: “Well, we’ve come close. We’ve gotten better each year. So we’re trending.”
In truth he’d already given the most honest reply when answering a different question on whether he feared setting back his recovery by playing this week.
“You know, I don’t really care about that,” Tiger said. “I think being there with and alongside my son is far more important, and get to have a chance to have this experience with him is far better than my foot being a little creaky.”
Spoken like a father who refused to let his son down.
Charlie Woods has taken his opportunities in front of the media at the PNC Championship to get some jabs in at his dad Tiger Woods.
After their round on Sunday, where the Woods duo shot a 65 to put them at -20 for the two-round event, Charlie took the opportunity to make fun of his legendary father.
“Yesterday, that’s the best he’s ever played in a while. And that kind of shocked me,” Charlie said.
On Saturday the duo shot 59 and held a share of second with Team Singh, chasing down Team Thomas. Charlie clearly wasn’t expecting that kind of performance. Tiger followed up his son’s remark by saying “I used to be good.”
Apparently Tiger and Charlie’s rounds are full of jabs being thrown back and forth. After their round on Saturday, Charlie said the fun remarks help to keep the nerves down.
“It makes it a lot less nerve-wracking in the final stretches because we always throw shots at each other,” the younger Woods said. “And it’s just very fun.”
Tiger agreed with his son’s sentiment.
“It’s literally nonstop. It starts pre-round. Before we even got here, the texts were flying. And then warmup, the jabs were coming out. And then throughout the round, there were jabs, there were a couple notes left here and there, a couple things said that we love.”
Their 65 on day two dropped them back to a tie for eight overall in the event, but even without winning events the Woods family is providing plenty of enjoyment for viewers on and off the fairways.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Rest easy, golf universe. There are no plans to “Charlie-proof“ the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in preparation for the arrival of Tiger Woods’ long-hitting son at this week’s PNC Championship, which begins on Saturday.
Charlie Woods, 14, will be moving back one set of tees, but that’s just a matter of age. Charlie turned 13 since last year’s event, in which he and his father finished second behind the Dalys, John and John II.
Unless Charlie and his father choose for Charlie to play a longer course – indications are that they will not – Charlie will be teeing it up from roughly 6,500 yards in the parent-child competition. At last year’s PNC, the tees Charlie played from were closer to 6,000 yards.
A variety of tees are in use at the PNC Championship because of the wide disparity in ages and skill levels.
Several reports circulated Wednesday stating that Charlie would be moved back to the second-longest set of tees this week, which play approximately 6,750 yards. That’s just one tee box up from the set used by PGA TOUR professionals age 54 and younger, a group that includes his dad, Tiger. Those players will compete from approximately 7,100 yards.
Charlie was briefly listed in the group of players who would compete from the second-longest set of tees, but with an asterisk next to his name that signified that he had been moved at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.
As always, the Tournament Committee reserves the right to make adjustments as deemed necessary, but Joe Terry, this week’s advance official and Chief Referee for the PGA TOUR, said he wasn’t going to “penalize” young Charlie just because he hits a golf ball a long way. (Tiger admitted at The Match last week that Charlie has outdriven him at home.)
“Age is age, and it’s always constant,” said Terry, who is in his 25th year at the PNC, a 20-team event of pros and amateurs that utilizes four different sets of tees, all according to age. For instance, there are only three players in the field who will compete from the most-forward Grand Masters tees, set up at 5,643 yards: Gary Player and Lee Trevino (both in their 80s) and 11-year-old Will McGee, son of Annika Sorenstam, who is playing for the first time. McGee is the youngest player in this week’s field.
“We have always done everything by age,” Terry said. “If we changed it to get Charlie to play from further back, we would do so only at the request or the wishes of Charlie or Tiger. (Terry added that historically, Tiger always has been committed to following age guidelines.) Every other 14-year-old has played from the 14+-year-old tees, so if we win, when we win, the record can stand as a 14-year-old.”
Charlie Woods will be playing from the same tees as the pros ages 65-72 (Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Nick Price, Nick Faldo), club professional Mike Thomas (Justin’s dad), Petr Korda (Nelly’s dad), amateur Carson Kuchar (son of Matt). Annika Sorenstam, one of two LPGA players in the field, also will play from those tees. Should Charlie and Tiger return in 2023, Charlie again would move back one set of tees.
Terry said he listened to suggestions that Charlie needs to play a longer course because he hits it far, but he said, “I’m not going to arbitrate that. Age is age. If I moved him (back) because he’s good, then why don’t I move some others because they’re not good? Age is age, and it’s always constant, and if we stick by our tournament regulations, we’ll be fine.”
Tiger and Charlie Woods will play in Saturday’s final grouping, heading off at 12:02 p.m. alongside Justin and Mike Thomas, the 2020 PNC champions.
Athletes’ kids are a bit of a phenomenon right now, with everyone wondering what Bronny James’ path to the NBA looks like and Marvin Harrison Jr. shredding the college football world.
But no one seems to be on a faster track to success than Charlie Woods, Tiger’s 14-year-old son who is apparently already outdriving the legend on the course (although according to Tiger it was one time).
Charlie is set to compete at the PNC Championship with his dad for the third year in a row, as they look to secure their first win after nearly pulling it off last year (they ultimately came up short to John Daly and John Daly II).
Twenty teams will be competing, but none will be more high-profile than Woods and Woods. Charlie may not be being marketed as the next prodigy as Tiger was when he was a kid (the harsh truth is that’s what Tiger was at the time), but that is very likely by design given Tiger’s experience. Nonetheless, Charlie’s talent is undeniable.
Here’s what to know about the budding star.
How old is Charlie Woods?
Charlie Woods is 14 years old, having been born Feb. 8, 2009.
One of the first introductions golf fans got to Charlie was after Tiger won the Bridgestone Invitational in 2013, and Charlie went to greet him after in a sweet father-son moment.
Charlie Woods golf highlights
The PNC Championship is hardly Charlie’s introduction to golf fans. He’s been dazzling with highlights for some time, even if it’s been more sparing.
For starters, there were his club twirls after shooting at last year’s PNC Championship, emulating a Tiger special.
Then there was Charlie having some fun with Justin Thomas and his son with a note in the bunker.
Charlie also channeled his father with an outstanding putt and a small celebration. Because sometimes a small celebration is all you need.20
Charlie’s confidence on the course is unassailable, and it shows. He just seems ready to joke and laugh at any time, which is refreshing in the golf world.
Tiger seems to get a kick out of it himself.
A lot of Charlie’s viral highlights seem to be him emulating his dad’s iconic moments. But he’s also making his own path.
Tiger Woods’ children
Charlie is the second of Tiger’s children. Before he was born in 2009, Tiger had a child in 2007, daughter Sam Alexis.
Sam has also golfed and she was Tiger’s caddie at one point, but she appears to be more enamored with soccer at this point.
Charlie, meanwhile, looks like he’s going to stick with golf. He has had Tiger as his caddie in the past in a sweet moment of role reversal.
Who is Charlie Woods’ mom?
Sam and Charlie’s mother is Elin Nordegren.
Woods and Nordegren met in 2001 and were married in 2004. Although they divorced in 2010, they’re both still very involved in their kids’ lives.
Speaking from the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club after their first round at the PNC Championship, Tiger and Charlie recapped some of their highlights of the day and spilled some hilarious—and heart-warming—details about their close bond.
The pair shot a 13-under 59 for the day at the PGA Tour’s annual two-day family scramble despite both Tiger and Charlie battling some injuries.
Charlie was seen walking with a visible limp after he rolled his ankle prior to the tournament, and Tiger is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. But pushing through pain runs in the Woods family, and the team put together an impressive round nonetheless. They sit two strokes back of Justin Thomas and Mike Thomas, who lead at 15-under.
“This is not the game plan we had originally planned out,” Tiger said. “His ankle is not exactly feeling the best, so I’ve had to hit a couple more drives than I normally would.”
“Yeah, you,” Tiger continued, smirking down at his 14-year-old son.
Although the timing of the pair’s injuries are certainly unfortunate, the 15-time major champion was able to joke about their setback.
“It’s perfect yin and yang,” said Tiger. “He’s got the left, I got the right. We’re perfectly balanced.”
Tiger and Charlie then ran through some of the best moments of their round, watching their shots replayed on a monitor. A highlight of Tiger hitting an excellent wedge shot from the pine straw on the 13th hole revealed an interesting detail that fans were unaware of: The pair had a squabble back on the tee box.
Charlie and Tiger couldn’t agree on a strategy for the hole, but the five-time Masters champion had the final word.
“We had a little argument there,” Tiger said. “He wanted to play his shot, but also he wanted me to hit a little 5-wood off the tee. I kind of overruled. Fathers can overrule. And then I hit a saucy little 60 [degree wedge] in there.”
Charlie may not have gotten his way this time, but the 14-year-old did give some insight as to how much he can challenge his father.
“I push him as much as I possibly can,” said Charlie. “Once he pushes back I know that I can push a little bit more and then I’m done. And then I know it’s going to get heated.”
“I don’t mind the ‘umph,’ but there’s a line to it,” Tiger responded. “He knows.”
When asked about what it’s like to play with his father, Charlie delivered some special words about how much Tiger has persevered throughout the past year.
“It’s cool seeing how much he’s worked to get to where he is now,” Charlie said. “I wouldn’t say how bad it was—but how much he pushed through. It was just really cool to see.”
Tiger’s outward strength has had an effect on Charlie, but he explained that his son and his daughter, Sam, have had an even greater impact on him.
“Just to be able to see their faces and see their smiles and hear their words of encouragement,” Tiger said. “I’ve had some tough days, as he’s known, but just to have their support and their love—I’m not going to get teary eyed here but, it has meant so much to me to be able to get to this point in life. Forget the stage that we’re playing on, but just to be able to get to this point in life.”
Tiger and Charlie will play in the last pairing during the final round of the PNC Championship tomorrow, which will be broadcast from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET on Golf Channel and 1:30-4:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
