Team Thomas wins; Woods celebrates memory with son

ORLANDO, Fla. — Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods traded text messages on the eve of the final round at the PNC Championship, their teams tied for the lead and in contention. Neither mentioned winning.

This was about Woods getting to play alongside

11-year-old son Charlie, watching him twirl the club after a good drive and yes, even deliver a fist pump in his red shirt on Sunday. For Thomas, it was about competing with his father Mike, a longtime club professional in Kentucky and the only coach he’s ever had.

Team Thomas birdied the opening seven holes and the father delivered a

5-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that gave them a

15-under 57 in the scramble format and a one-shot victory over Vijay Singh and son Qass.

They won the Willie Park Trophy. It only felt like the other 19 teams won a participation trophy.

“Memories we’ll have for our entire lives,” Woods said after he and Charlie posted another 62 to finish seventh. “He’s 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.”

Woods and his son dressed in his traditional Sunday red with black trousers. Charlie’s mother, Elin Nordegren, walked the final round at The RitzCarlton Club at Grande Lakes, her first time at a golf tournament since the 2009 Presidents Cup at Harding Park.

The Woodses played the final six holes in 6-under par, too late by then to do anything about Thomas and his father. Thomas, a former world No. 1 and PGA champion, has grown close to the Woods clan and talked in the days leading up to this event about how badly Charlie wants to beat him.

Mike Thomas said young Woods took $1 off him on the putting green Saturday afternoon and said with a laugh, “I’ll show him what I got here.” Mike Thomas specializes in working with juniors and spends time with Charlie when he’s in Florida.