Woods to team with son in father-son event
Tiger Woods still has one tournament left this year that might feel as big as any to him.
The PNC Championship announced Thursday that Woods will play with 11-year- old son Charlie in the tournament that has paired major champions with their sons since 1995, the year before the 44-year- old Woods turned pro.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be playing with Charlie in our first official tournament together,” Woods said. “It’s been great watching him progress as a junior golfer, and it will be incredible playing as a team together in the PNC Championship.”
The PNC Championship is Dec. 1920 at the Ritz- Carlton Golf Club Orlando in central Florida.
The most television exposure Charlie received was last year at Augusta National when Woods wrapped his son in his arms after winning the Masters for the fifth time, completing a comeback from four back surgeries. It was his 15th major, but the first his son saw him win.
Woods wrapped up his official year with an eventful Sunday in the Masters. He was well out of contention when he took a 10 on the par-3 12th hole, and then followed with five birdies over his last six holes.
Added to the field this year is Justin Thomas playing with his father, longtime Kentucky club pro Mike Thomas. The format is a 36-hole scramble. Until deciding to play in the PNC Championship, it was thought Woods ended the year at the Masters. The Hero World Challenge he hosts in the Bahamas, scheduled for Dec. 3- 6, was canceled because of travel issues linked to the pandemic.
WALLACE, VILLEGAS TAKE FIRST-ROUND LEAD AT RSM CLASSIC >> Matt Wallace and Camilo Villegas each shot a 6-under-par 64 to share the lead as players struggled through windy conditions in the first round of the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia.
The duo sits atop a crowded leaderboard, with eight players tied for third place, one shot off the pace. Rory Sabbatini is among the group that shot 5 under, and is joined by Peter Malnati, Cameron Tringale, Adam Long, Patton Kizzire, Robert Streb, Keegan Bradley and Doug Ghim.
BRITISH OPEN CHAMP POPOV LEADS PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP >> Sophia Popov blistered the front nine and raced out to an opening-round lead at the Pelican Women’s Championship at Belleair, Florida.
Popov bagged six birdies on her first nine holes, including five in a row
to end the front nine, on her way to a 6-under-par 64 for the lead in the inaugural event. Popov, 28, won her first and only LPGA event so far, in August when she was the surprise winner at the Women’s British Open.
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai was in second, two shots back with a firstday 66. She closed strong, with three birdies on her final four holes. World No. 2 Sei Young Kim, of South Korea, and Ally McDonald were tied for third after shooting 3 under 67s.
The world’s top ranked player, South Korea’s Jin Young Ko, also made her return to the LPGA Tour. Due in part to an ankle injury, Ko had not competed since the 2019 season wrapped up. Ko had an opening round 2-over 72 and ended the round tied for 46th.
College football
DATES ON PLAYOFF GAMES, SELECTIONS UNCHANGED >> The dates of the College Football Playoff games and selection of the semifinal participants will remain unchanged after the CFP management committee discussed possibly pushing back the event.
CFP executive director Bill Hancock said there was no support among the conference commissioners who manage the playoff to lengthen the regular season by pushing back the date of the national semifinals and championship.
The selection committee will set the pairings for the semifinals on Dec. 20, the day after most major college conferences are scheduled to play their championship games.
The playoff semifinals are set to be played Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The national championship game is scheduled to be played Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
MARYLAND-MICHIGAN STATE CAN CELED >> The Big Ten game Saturday
between Maryland and Michigan State has been canceled after a COVID-19 outbreak on the Terrapins resulted in a positive test for coach Michael Locksley.
It’s the second straight cancellation for the Terrapins, who were scheduled to face Ohio State last week before several players on the team contracted the coronavirus. Maryland (21) has not played since beating Penn State on Nov. 7.
Tennis
NADAL BEATS TSITSIPAS TO REACH SEMIFINALS AT ATP FINALS >> Rafael Nadal advanced to the semifinals at the ATP Finals for the first time in five years and knocked out the defending champion in the process, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6- 4, 4- 6, 6-2 at London’s O2 Arena.
It is the sixth time in 10 appearances that Nadal has reached the last four of the season-ending tournament, which is the biggest title he has yet to win in his illustrious careers.
Nadal, who improved to 6-1 against Tsitsipas, will play Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals on Saturday. Dominic Thiem will face the winner of today’s match between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev.
MMA
MCGREGOR AGREES TO UFC RETURN VS POIRIER ON JAN. 23 >> Conor McGregor has agreed to return to the UFC for a rematch with Dustin Poirier on Jan. 23 at UFC 257.
UFC president Dana White confirmed to The Associated Press that McGregor has ended his latest retirement from mixed martial arts by signing an agreement for a 155-pound fight with Poirier.
White hasn’t decided whether UFC 257 will be held in Las Vegas or in the UFC’s coronavirus-secure bubble in Abu Dhabi.