Orlando, Fla. – Tiger Woods and 13-year-old son Charlie refused to let a bad foot and sprained ankle keep them from playing together in the PNC Championship. The way they played on Saturday, they probably could have won.
Partnership Woods, dubbed “Team Ice Bath” due to their injuries, finished with a 13-under 59 stroke format, two shots behind Justin Thomas and his father, club pro Mike Thomas.
Team Thomas won the championship belt two years ago, when Woods first introduced Charlie to a national television audience at the PNC Championship.
“They rubbed it in our faces at Christmas dinner. They’re in a good place to do it again at Christmas dinner,” Woods said. But we will have little to say about that.
Even being in the mix, much less the final team, seemed unlikely the way father and son were enjoying themselves around the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.
Woods, reeling from plantar fasciitis in his right foot, went in for eagle from behind the fifth green, hitting any shots needed and closing out the front nine with 20-footers and 35-footers.
Charlie’s left ankle sprained his knee after hitting his tee shot on the par-5 fifth hole. He sat in a cart with his dad — that’s allowed because that’s allowed by the PGA Tour Championships — and changed shoes on the practice range to see if it helped.
The youngsters contributed a 20-foot first birdie for a 3-footer in their biggest run. Charlie bent down to pick up his father’s coin before the ball hit the cup and ended the tournament with a 6-foot birdie putt.
“It hurt a lot on some shots. It was difficult to walk,” said Charlie for the first time in front of the media. “But it’s okay. It wasn’t that bad.”
They still have to keep an eye on Thomas, who posted two eagles for the 15-under 57 and closed with a birdie.
Although Vijay Singh and son Qas were the first to post a 59, the last team would be Woods and Thomas. Charlie referred to it as a “big family”, because the Thomas family spends most of their time at home. Joe Lacava for Woods and Lacava’s son caddies for Charlie.
“You guys are watching what we do at home all the time. We just have fun,” Woods said of playing with his son. We encourage each other by injecting each other. It goes back and forth. It’s just an amazing relationship, and it only strengthens the bond between father and son. Being able to share has been incredible over the years. This level and this air with it.”
There is a lot of noise.
Charlie made 20 feet on number 7 and Thomas has “Welcome to Father-Son”, the first name of the tournament and the chance to hit the ribs for contributing to the final result.
“We’re four friends when we go out and play golf,” Thomas said. “Charlie hit his fair share of putts pretty hard today, so I made sure to remember that. He hit some really good putts and putts, and he was good.”
Woods had to pull out of the Hero World Challenge two weeks ago and didn’t look particularly sharp in a televised team match last week.
He looks overpowered with a golf club in hand, except for a golf club.
“That’s what I’m saying. I can hit the ball, I just have a harder time getting from point A to point B,” Woods said. “I’ve had a tough couple of years. But I miss being a part of this game again and being able to compete and play to do it.”
His only goal going into 2022 was to play in the 150th British Open at St Andrews. He wound up playing three majors and “I can play with my son.”
Singh and his 32-year-old son are playing for the 16th time, and their best finish would be a run against Team Thomas in 2020.
Woods said he will begin working on a rehabilitation plan for his right leg on Monday. For the time being, he will find another day when he tries to win for the first time with his son.
“I know how hard it is for him to play here,” said back four Mark O’Meara, who was playing with his son. “Usually whenever you want a tiger to do something, just tell him he can’t do it. And that’s usually what he does.”
“I don’t know what the future holds, but it’s good that he came and played with Charlie.”
Divots Woods began the round by stopping on the tee and congratulating his ex-wife, Elaine, on the birth of their son. Charlie walks in and Woods smiles and says, “We have to get to work.” … Annika Sorenstam’s 11-year-old son, Will McGee, made a 40-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole. He was 62 with Nellie Korda and her father.
