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Tiger Woods has always been under the spotlight, but heading into Year 3 of the PNC Championship, he was fully aware he might not even be the main draw anymore.

Here’s the first question Woods fielded from reporters at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla., last week: Do you get the sense that you’re the second-most-watched person out here?

“Yeah, nothing wrong with that,” he 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.”

The second part of Woods’ answer didn’t really address the question asked, but you get the picture. The golf world wants to know about Charlie Woods.

It’s a complicated topic, too. Some people love watching the kid and seeing him interact with his dad. Others aren’t a fan of the extra media coverage just because of his last name. But this article isn’t going to dive into that; we are instead just going to talk about how anyone — regardless of who their mom or dad is — prepares to play golf in front of thousands of fans and millions more on TV screens.

Charlie Woods

It can’t be easy, right?

Charlie was asked that on Sunday, after he teamed with his dad to tie for 8th out of 20 teams.

“I think just getting used to it,” he said. “The first year was surprising, and then I just knew what to expect the next two years.”

This is where Dad chimed in with some important context.

“The first year couldn’t have been better for him to participate at this level because it was a Covid year,” Tiger said. “So for him to be inside the ropes the very first time during Covid, we didn’t have any fans out here. But it was the first time he got to experience it being inside the ropes at this level seeing the legends of the game hit golf balls and watch Gary Player and Lee Trevino hitting golf balls and rewind the clock and see what I grew up watching. He got to experience that without the fans, which was a great way for him to be introduced to this and then last year was more of an introduction than today, and this week, and here we are.”

As for any tips his dad offered?

“It’s a lot of just staying in your own mind and just kind of focusing on what you’re doing and nothing else,” Charlie said. “Just hole-by-hole.”

Most golfers would love to copy Tiger Woods’ swing, but the 15-time major champion has other ideas for his son, Charlie.

The young Woods went viral last month when a video of his driver swing at the Notah Begay III Junior Golf Championship made the rounds across social media.

Some were saying his swing looked like a hybrid of Tiger and Rory McIlroy’s swings, but the elder Woods wants it to look more like the current world No. 1.

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

“I told [Charlie], ‘Don’t copy my swing. Copy Rory’s,’” Woods said during the third round of the Hero World Challenge.

The 82-time PGA Tour winner joked that he can’t move like that anymore before lobbing more praise McIlroy’s way.

“Have you ever seen Rory off balance in a shot?” Woods asked Dan Hicks and Paul Azinger. “Not ever. That’s one of the things my dad instilled in me, is that you should be able to balance and hold your finish until the ball rolls and stops. You can swing as hard as you want, but you need to have balance.”

Charlie’s balance will be on display when the Woods’ tee it up at the PNC Championship later this month.

A look back at the highlights of the duo’s last two years at the tournament

Tiger and Charlie Woods will tee it up once again at the PNC Championship this weekend at the Ritz-Carlton GC in Orlando, Florida. This will be their third consecutive appearance at the tournament, which has become one of the marquee events of the fall season.

While some like to refer to this section of the golf calendar as the “silly season,” there is nothing silly about Tiger Woods teeing it up at this stage of his career, regardless of the context. As many witnessed during the most recent edition of Capital One’s The Match, whenever and wherever Tiger appears on a golf course, it becomes must-see entertainment. This weekend at the PNC Championship alongside his son is poised to be no different.

There won’t be any FedExCup points up for grabs, or any OWGR ranking to fight over. Just some of the biggest names in the sport playing golf with their family around the holidays. This event reminds so many of us why we love the game.

In preparation for the PNC Championship, we collected some of the most iconic moments over the last two years from Team Woods.

Charlie flushes 5-iron off the tee to card Team Woods’ 11th consecutive birdie

Team Woods entered the final round of the 2021 PNC Championship tied for fifth, three shots off the lead. While most fans were happy to just see Tiger back on a golf course, the Woods duo were over the simple pomp and circumstance of their mere presence. They were there to win.

What followed was a display of superb scramble golf from Charlie and Tiger that included a run of 11 straight birdies starting at the sixth and extending through No. 17.

The run was highlighted by Charlie striping a 5-iron to 4 feet on the par-3 17th, tying the lead with John Daly and his college-aged son John Daly II heading to 18.

Charlie Woods

Charlie dropped the putt for the solo birdie, marking 11 straight circles for Team Woods, a tournament record.

Charlie hits the iconic walk-in and putter raise

It took just four holes into the first round of the 2021 PNC for the moxie of the younger Woods to be on full display for the world. Taking a page out of Tiger’s book of signature celebrations, Charlie walked in a lengthy birdie putt and raised his putter to the sky just like his father has done in some of the biggest moments in the history of golf.

That wasn’t the only statement putt from the younger Woods, as he drained a birdie on the par-3 eighth and promptly tossed his marker at dear old dad.

Charlie displays trash-talk prowess with clever response to Mike Thomas

Tiger Woods isn’t one of the more outspoken figures in golf, but certainly knows how to dish out some clever trash talk. This gamesmanship isn’t lost on son Charlie, who delivered the perfect needle to the team of Justin Thomas and dad Mike Thomas at the 2020 PNC.

Mike Thomas, a PGA professional who specializes in coaching junior golfers and has worked with Charlie in the past, left a note for the younger Woods in the middle of the fairway during the pro-am the day before the first round.

“Charlie drove one through the fairway and my dad was playing in front of them and he’d hit it into the trees,” Justin Thomas explained. “My dad wrote on a piece of paper ‘draw hole’ and put it under his ball. In typical Woods fashion, he kept the piece of paper, and when my dad hit it in the bunker, he put the exact same piece of paper behind his ball.”

Some gall for an 11-year-old to call out a seasoned PGA professional, in front of the TV cameras no less. One could suppose that’s just the natural confidence instilled in someone growing up with an 82-time TOUR winner as a dad.

“For some reason, Charlie just always wants to beat me, it doesn’t matter what it is. Although he’s never beaten me in golf or a putting contest, he still talks trash just like his dad. It will be fun,” said Justin Thomas. “We’ll have that inner tournament within a tournament, trying to shut his little mouth up, but it will be fun.”

Tiger outdrives Justin Thomas

Following the shocking news of Tiger Woods’ car accident in February 2021, questions began to surface asking if the 15-time major champion would ever be able to compete, or even play golf, again. After intense surgery, talks of amputation, and eventually being bedridden to his Florida home for three months, Tiger returned to golf alongside his son at the 2021 PNC Championship.

Tiger’s game was limited. A noticeable limp and stiffness in the swing were apparent from the first tee shot. Justin Thomas, playing alongside Team Woods, was determined that a 45-year-old, hobbled Tiger would not outdrive him. That changed on the 11th hole.

“I hit it pretty good and as soon as his ball took that big bounce, we looked at each other and I was like, ‘If it’s going to happen, it’s going to be this one because I think it just launched.’ And yeah, that was a shot to the ego,” Thomas said with a smile.

Team Woods would go on to birdie the hole, but it was in that moment off the tee that Tiger showed he just might still have what it takes to compete.

“It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Nick Faldo said. “To go from fearing that you can’t use your foot to standing, he’s gone through every stage and ticking every box with sheer hard work and amazing determination. Maybe this was a goal. This was a great goal for him to come and play with his boy.”

The mannerisms

One of the biggest catalysts in the public’s growing interest in Charlie Woods was a video put together following the 2020 PNC Championship, super cutting the similarities in movements and mannerisms between father and son.

Where most people share some common traits with their parents, few get to display those characteristics through a shared sport in front of the television cameras. Those who have watched Tiger play over the last three decades were quick to see the eerily similar quirks Charlie has picked up from his dad.

The swing. The fist pump. The quick grab of the tee. It’s all there.

Charlie Woods will play alongside his father at this weekend’s PNC Championship in Florida with all eyes again on the 14-year-old

Tiger Woods advised his son to copy the swing of rival Rory McIlroy instead of his own, and golf fans have spotted that the 14-year-old is doing just that. Woods Jr was videoed ahead of this weekend’s PNC Championship, when he will play alongside his father, and viewers were quick to comment on the teenager’s swing.

Instead of telling his son to copy his own game Woods, who has won 15 Major championships, paid the ultimate compliment to world No.1 McIlroy. “I told [Charlie], ‘Don’t copy my swing. Copy Rory’s’,” Woods Sr said. “Have you ever seen Rory off balance on a shot?

“No. Not ever. You can swing as hard as you want, but you need to have balance.” Woods Jr seems to have been taking note of his father’s advice and fans were quick to notice the resemblance ahead of the competition this weekend.

The PGA Tour champions posted the video on Instagram with the comment: “Charlie Woods swing update.” Alongside an emoji of a tiger and golfer.” Others were quick to compliment the teenager’s swing. The PNC Championship replied: “Swing is looking good”.

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

Others believed that the swing of Woods Jr looked beyond his years. franko_1121 added: “Looks 14. Swings like he’s 30.” Other fans made the comparison between the swing of McIlroy and Woods Jr in the video. jburnett22 added: “I thought that was Rory.”

Woods Sr is still suffering from the leg injuries he suffered in an horrific car crash last year and has been caddy for some of his son’s events while also offering his advice. Fans believed that advice is now paying off, mrdior11 added: “Tiger said “Copy Rory’s swing not mine” ITS WORKING!”

Another golf fan believed that Woods Jr has taken parts of his father’s swing and that of four-time Major winner McIlroy. mike_nevins added: “That swing is a Tiger and Rors collab and it’s gorgeous.”

Woods Jr 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. Woods Sr has also commented about his son’s improved striking of the ball. He said: “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 Woods says there’s a difference between pain and injury.

And that’s why, he said on Saturday night, his 14-year-old son, Charlie, is playing at this weekend’s PNC Championship, despite a noticeable left-leg limp, and at least one time where he tumbled over after a tee shot.

The explanation came during an interview with SiriusXM Radio’s Brian Katrek after Tiger and Charlie shot a 14-under 59 during the first round of the major champion-family member event. Here is the complete exchange:

“Charlie, it’s a learning process for you; you’re being asked questions,” Katrek began. “How much are you learning not just about golf but about what your dad goes through on a day-in, day-out basis?”

“I mean, I found a new respect for him now after getting a minor — very minor — injury,” the younger Woods said. “I wouldn’t really call it an injury — I’m just hurt. But just to see what he’s going through and how I have just like a fraction of it and how much it hurts, and it’s just cool how he’s gotten to where he is now after all he’s been through.”

“Well, there’s a big difference, BK, between pain and injury,” the elder Woods said. “And so, this is just pain.”

“Yeah,” Charlie said.

“If you’re injured, you’re not playing,” Tiger said. “This is just a little bit of pain, and it’s game time, so we just go out there and we suck it up together. As I said over here, we’re perfect yin and yang — he’s got a left foot, I got a right foot, so we got two good feet. We’re good.”

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

“It’s all you need,” Katrek said. “Spoken like a true football coach.”

According to NBC/Golf Channel analyst Notah Begay on Friday, a Woods family friend, Charlie rolled his left ankle while hitting balls on a range ahead of the tournament; Tiger, meanwhile, told Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis that the limp was due to “growing pains.” Whatever the case, Charlie joins his dad with leg issues — the elder Woods is battling plantar fasciitis in his right foot, an extension of injuries to his right leg suffered during a car crash early last year, and he’s also battled various ailments throughout his career.

In Team Woods’ press conference after Saturday’s first round, Charlie was also asked about his left leg. Here is that exchange:

“How much does your ankle hurt today, and how much do you have to adjust your swing to compensate for it?” a reporter asked.

“On some shots, it hurt a lot,” Charlie said. “Walking was tough. But it was — it was all right. It wasn’t that bad.”

“Hey, he got a cart, so it was all right,” Tiger said.

Despite the issues, Tiger and Charlie birdied 11 holes and eagled one on Saturday in the scramble format. They played Sunday in the final pairing and started two shots back of leader Team Thomas — Justin Thomas and his dad, Mike.

“How much fun is this, you and Charlie? Is it as much fun as it looks like it is?” Katrek asked on SiriusXM Radio.

“No, it’s more. No, it’s way more,” Tiger said. “It’s way more fun. I mean, we were having a blast out there. Again, to be able to share family moments like this — you know, this is what we do all the time at home. And we’re used to it. People have seen it for the last couple years, but this is what it’s like each and every day at home.”

ORLANDO — Last week during The Match, commentator Trevor Immelman put Tiger Woods on the spot with a simple question: Is Charlie outdriving you yet?
“I hate to say it, but I’m going to admit it. He finally did it,” Tiger said. “I spun one, he tomahawked one and got me.”It’s not hard to see why. Charlie Woods comes into this year’s PNC Championship looking a little different than in year’s past. Specifically, bigger.

Charlie is 14 now. He’s taller, and he’s filled out his skinny frame with more muscle. And when he hits shots, contact sounds different than it used to. There’s more pop these days.
So, if he can sneak one past his dad, how far can Charlie actually send it? During Friday’s pro-am at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, I watched him catch one on the 10th hole that traveled 279 yards, with roll. It snuck past a bunker and left him a little wedge into the green.Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

But in many ways topline speed doesn’t tell the full story of Charlie or any junior golfer’s game.

On the next hole, Charlie lost one out to the right. It found the right side of the fairway, but traveled 232 yards, about 40 yards shorter than his driver just a hole earlier.

Charlie’s 255-yard average on the admittedly small sample size of two drives puts him above average for his age, and no matter which way you cut it, is impressive. But asked about Charlie’s new build, and the distance he’s capable of producing because of it, Tiger didn’t focus on his distance. Yes, he’s gotten bigger and stronger, but when Tiger looks at his son’s game, and how it’s developed, there’s a bigger change he’s been more impressed by.

Learning to improve the bad shots

“Playing tournament golf, you’ve got to make a switch on the fly and trust it,” Tiger says. “And that’s where I’ve seen the biggest growth when I’ve caddied for him in events or I’ve watched him play. I can see him rehearsing shots, trying to get out of a certain pattern.”
Ultimately, that’s been a more impressive development in Charlie’s game than his distance increase, Tiger says. Learning to play golf, on the good and the bad days. To know what causes shots like his second drive, so his bad drives look more like his good drives.
“I always tell him why we’re doing what we’re doing, so that he can retrace the steps. And when he gets a little off, now he knows what to go back to and understand that,” he says. “Understanding how to fix it when on the fly when I’m not around, it’s what I was taught by my dad.”

Tiger and son Charlie finished six shots back at the PNC, but the soon-to-be 47-year-old offered enough highlights to consider what recovery time could bring next year.

ORLANDO — A three-week dose of Tiger Woods in December provided a glimpse of his greatness while also offering a stark reminder of the physical hurdles he faces—while remaining the biggest interest generator in golf.

It’s tough to make much noise in golf as the holidays approach, but Woods has been on our television screens in spurts the last three weeks, culminating Sunday with the final round of the PNC Championship.

That Woods and his son, Charlie, 14, were unable to muster any kind of a charge at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort was hardly of any concern.

The fact that he was out playing again, enjoying time with his son, and still hitting shots that make you wonder how competitive he could be again if healthy, was all that mattered.

Tiger and Charlie managed a scramble score of 65, finishing six shots behind the winning team of Vijay Singh and his son, Qass. To forge a tie, Team Woods would have needed to equal their first-round 59, a tough task on a day where the putts were not dropping and fatigue—even in a 36-hole exhibition with a cart—was an issue.

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

The bright side for Woods: this is a long way removed from where he was a year ago at this event, when it was remarkable he even returned and yet put forth a very ominous forecast.

“I can’t compete against these guys right now, no,” Woods said at the 2021 PNC. “It’s going to take a lot of work to get to where I feel like I can compete with these guys and be at a high level.”

Less than four months later, he played in the Masters and made the cut. He played in two more major championships. He played again here this week, hitting the ball very well despite the plantar fasciitis diagnosis that knocked him out of the Hero World Challenge two weeks ago.

Still, he made it to St. Andrews, his biggest goal.

“It was a tough year but also one of the more rewarding years I’ve had in a while,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of setbacks over the last few years, so to be able to have—as I was alluding to this summer, I don’t know if I ever get back to playing St. Andrews in a British Open, but to be able to experience that maybe one last time at this level was very special to me.

“That was my favorite golf course in the whole world, and if that was it, that was it, to be able to possibly finish up my career there, I don’t know. That’s one of the reasons why I was kind of emotional because I don’t know if I’ll ever—I’ll play St Andrews again. I’ll play Open Championships in the future but I don’t know if I’ll be around when it comes back there again.”

Tiger and Charlie Woods enthralled golf fans with their play at the 2023 PNC Championship, but it was the snippets of father-son banter that made the weekend all the more entertaining.

Team Woods finished six shots behind champions Vijay and Qass Singh, shooting a stellar 13-under 59 on Saturday and a less impressive 7-under 65 on Sunday.

Tiger and Charlie’s play deserves to be marked with an asterisk, though, as they each battled through injuries all weekend. Charlie played on a rolled left ankle, while Tiger dealt with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, a condition which forced him to withdraw from the Hero World Challenge earlier in the month.

On Saturday in particular, Charlie struggled to make a normal swing, but Tiger came to the rescue with a handful of vintage moments. The 15-time major champion saved the day with a chip-in eagle, several long-range birdie putts, and clutch iron play.

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

When asked about what he learned from the experience, Charlie gave his honest thoughts on his father’s performance.

“I already knew what he was capable of,” Charlie said. “And then yesterday, that’s the best he’s ever played in a while. And that kind of shocked me a little bit. That’s really it.”

Tiger was visibly amused at his 14-year-old son’s response, and the audience got a kick out of it.

“Yeah, I used to be good,” Tiger said. “Again, it was neat to roll back the clock for him to see what I used to be capable of.”

It turns out that years of highlight footage might not have been enough to convince Charlie of his dad’s sheer greatness in the game. It was a few timely birdies in a family scramble tournament that did it for the 14-year-old.

Another witness of Tiger’s play on Saturday, however, needed no reminder of what the five-time Masters champion can do on the course when he needs to. Justin Thomas’s caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, was on the bag for Phil Mickelson during Tiger’s prime.

“[If] anyone who knows what I used to be able to do, [it was] Bones. And so Bones got a big kick out of that yesterday,” Tiger added.

Team Woods may have fallen short of the PNC Championship title, but they won when it comes to priceless father-son moments.

Tiger Woods has been a rare sight on golf courses in 2022, with only three appearances so far. All of those appearances came in majors, to little success. He said after missing the cut at the Open Championship in July that there was no chance of retirement. And he is set to be busy in December, with three appearances. The final of which will be at the PCN Championship alongside his son Charlie.

Tiger Woods has confirmed a third appearance in December at the PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie.
Woods, who has only made three competitive appearances so far in 2022, was a confirmed participant in the seventh iteration of The Match on December 10.
The appearance alongside Rory McIlroy in the clash against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas comes a week after he tees it up in the Hero World Challenge.
While The Match at the Pelican Club in Florida is a 12-hole exhibition for charity, the Hero World Challenge – which Woods hosts through his foundation – is a 72-hole tournament.
Following his appearances in the Hero World Challenge and The Match, Woods will be in action alongside his son in the PNC Championship.
The PNC Championship features high-profile players in partnership with a child or parent, and is often fiercely contested.
As a 15-time major winner and one of the fiercest competitors in the sport, Woods is sure to take it seriously and is looking forward to the challenge.
Charlie Woods
“I’m thrilled to close out a great December by returning to compete in the PNC Championship with my son Charlie,” Woods said. “Getting to play as a dad makes the week that much more special.
“We have been looking forward to this week all year and we can’t wait to team up together for our third PNC Championship. This is such a special opportunity as a dad to get to compete with my son against so many golfing greats and their family members. It is going to be a very special week and I know that Charlie and I will have a blast.”
The PNC Championship takes place from December 15 to 18 at the Ritz-Carlton Club in Orlando.

CONFIRMED FIELD FOR PNC CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Stewart Cink & Connor Cink
  • John Daly & John Daly II
  • David Duval & Brady Duval
  • Nick Faldo & Matthew Faldo
  • Jim Furyk & Tanner Furyk
  • Padraig Harrington & Patrick Harrington
  • Nelly Korda & Petr Korda
  • Matt Kuchar & Carson Kuchar
  • Bernhard Langer & Jason Langer
  • Tom Lehman & Sean Lehman
  • Justin Leonard & Luke Leonard
  • Mark O’Meara & Shaun O’Meara
  • Gary Player & Jordan Player
  • Nick Price & Greg Price
  • Vijay Singh & Qass Singh
  • Annika Sorenstam & Will McGee
  • Jordan Spieth & Shawn Spieth
  • Justin Thomas & Mike Thomas
  • Lee Trevino & Daniel Trevino
  • Tiger Woods & Charlie Woods
While Woods will be centre of attention, a host of star names will be teeing it up.
The eye is drawn to the Nelly Korda and Petr Korda partnership.
Nelly is the world No. 1 in the women’s game, while her father won the Australian Open during a distinguished tennis career.
Woods has not been seen in competitive action since missing the cut in the Open Championship at St Andrews in July.
He said after the Open that he had no intention of retiring, but would tailor his schedule to suit his body as he continued to struggle with the leg injury he suffered in a car crash in 2021.
The majors are likely to be Woods’ focus in 2023, and his three appearances in December are likely to give an indication of his well-being.

A room full of journalists excitedly awaiting the arrival of a player, ready to barrage him with questions, and as the tension mounts, another player emerges, and hilarity breaks out.

This is a regular scene during press conferences involving American golfer Justin Thomas. He is well-known for infiltrating his fellow golfers’ conferences. From asking Charlie Woods about his hat to taking a jibe at Max Homa, It’s always entertaining to watch JT’s press conferences.

Here, we will look at three occasions when a player gate-crashed a fellow player’s press conferences.

#1 Justin Thomas asked Charlie Woods about his hat

During the 2022 PNC Championship, Justin Thomas showed his puckish side when he asked Charlie Woods about his hat. Young Woods was attending a press conference with his father Tiger Woods, when Thomas jumped in between, saying:

“I have a question for Charlie. What is the background behind the Snoopy hat? Thank you!”

Hearing the question, the 15-time major champion chuckled and covered his eyes, while Charlie answered by saying:

“It’s the hat that was in my closet and fits the best.”

#2 Justin Thomas served as an unofficial reporter at Max Homa’s conference

Justin Thomas and Max Homa are set to play at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic this week. Ahead of the start of the tournament, during a press conference on Wednesday, June 28, Thomas was an impromptu reporter. He asked Homa about his favorite pairing from last week.

“Hey man, Justin. I’m playing in the tournament this week. Of all your pairings last week, who was your favourite that wasn’t Wyndham Clark and why?”

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

Max had a hilarious reply. He said:

“Oh man. I think I’d have to go with Justin Thomas. He makes me feel tall and funny.”

#3 Tom Kim became a reporter at Rory McIlroy’s press conference

Kim pretended to be a reporter during Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy’s news conference at the Congaree Golf Club last year during The CJ Cup. He asked about McIlroy’s success, saying:

“Rory, I have a question for you. What’s it like having so much success as a young player? Coming out and many years on Tour, how do you manage all that?”

McIlroy warmly responded to his questioning, praising the rising star after his early achievements. He stated:

“I didn’t have as much success as you’re having at such a young age! Like I think when you start to have success at a young age, you’re going to – I think the biggest thing that I realised is managing your time. You’re going to be pulled in so many different directions.

“You’ve got one, two, three, four, I can see five sponsors on you at this point, right? So it’s just trying to manage your time to realise what got you to this position, right?”

It is worth noting that Tom Kim became a pro in 2018 and has since won 11 professional events and reached 13 in the OWGR.