Tiger Woods and his son Charlie team up at the PNC Championship

Tiger Woods was every bit the proud dad as he teed it up with his 11-year-old son Charlie at the PNC Championship in Florida.

Team Woods shot a 10-under 62 for the second day in a row to end on 20-under par and seventh overall in the two-day exhibition event at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.

The duo finished five shots behind winners world number three Justin Thomas and his father Mike, who finished on 25 under to win the title which is played using a scramble scoring format.

Team Singh, Vijay and his son Qass, finished on 24 under in second place, ahead of Mark O’Meara’s team and Lee Trevino’s in a share of third, while Team Matt Kuchar and Team Tom Kite finished in a tie for fifth.

“I don’t think words can describe it,” said 44-year-old Woods. “Just the fact that we were able to have this experience together, Charlie and I, those are memories for our entire lives.

“He is not going to appreciate this at 11 years old. I didn’t when I was with my dad. As the years go by, you start appreciating it more.”

Formerly known as the Father-Son Challenge, The PNC Championship sees 20 golfers who have won either a major championship or the Players Championship invited to play alongside a member of their family.

Like father, like son

Charlie, the youngest competitor in the tournament’s 25-year history, wore his father’s signature red shirt and black trousers combination on Sunday as they carded two eagles, seven birdies and one bogey in their final round.

And the similarities didn’t end there. They both used an all-TaylorMade club set-up, including identical SIM drivers and MG2 wedges, and both used Tiger’s famous ‘Frank’ head covers.

Charlie played really well and has a great swing for someone so young, and his short game shows real touch. After he rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt at the par-4 9th, he let rip a vintage Tiger uppercut fist pump. He even twirls his club after a good shot, just like his dad.

On day one, Charlie eagled the par-5 3rd hole after hitting the fairway with his drive before drawing a 5-wood approach to within four feet of the cup. He then rolled in the putt – the only eagle of the day – as Tiger beamed from ear to ear. It was Charlie’s first eagle in competition. “Awesome!” said Tiger.

Tiger and Charlie hugged on the 18th hole on Sunday, recalling their touching embrace after Tiger won his fifth Masters in 2019. Tiger said the next step for Charlie is nine-hole junior events, then 18 and 36-hole events.

We may one day see Charlie sink the winning putt at Augusta National before embracing his dad, just as Tiger did with his father Earl in 1997 after winning his first major title.