Father-son weekend outing: 2 Woods tee it up in Florida
Tiger and Charlie Woods compete this weekend at PNC Championship in Orlando.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Alastair Johnston, the longtime IMG executive, has been waiting for this day for a long time.
Just days after Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters at the age of 21, his first of 15 major championships, Johnston congratulated Woods, his next-door neighbor at Isleworth Country Club, on his achievement and added, “Good news is you’ve now qualified for the FatherSon.”
Woods shot him a quizzical look, unaware that one of the perks of joining the major winner club was a potential spot in what is now known as the PNC Championship, a two-person best-ball event pairing a major winner with a father (or father-in-law in the case of Bubba Watson), son or daughter.
“You’ll find out one day,” Johnston said.
That day has arrived as Woods is the headliner of an event that features the likes of World Golf Hall of Famers Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Annika Sorenstam. Woods is making his tournament debut with 11-yearold son Charlie, who has taken to the sport, winning junior tournaments throughout Florida often with his famous dad lugging his bag. Father and son warmed up for Thursday’s pro-am round side by side at RitzCarlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes Resort and it was like viewing a mirror image, down to the club twirl.
“I don’t know if his swing is any different than mine, but his feels are very similar in creating shots,” Tiger said. “He has this opportunity to enjoy, and he’s doing that.”
For Tiger, it’s all about the bonding experience with his son this weekend. This tournament isn’t really so much about a trophy – or in this case, a belt in homage to the original prize at the British Open – as it is about a celebration of family. Adding to the family affair this week for Team Woods is Joe LaCava Jr., the son of Tiger’s caddie, is on the bag for Charlie.
His best shot of the day arguably was his approach at the par-4 12th, which he parked 3 feet from the hole. At every tee, Charlie buried his head in his yardage book and plotted strategy. One hole later, Tiger drew up the play, saying, “I’ll get it in play, then you can be aggressive.” Charlie’s eyes lit up at the possibilities.
While Charlie might be short in stature, Mike Thomas, father of World No. 3 Justin Thomas, said he’s about the same size as Justin at that age.
“Except he didn’t have speed,” Mike Thomas said. “Charlie’s got speed.”
Indeed, when he bashed driver at the third hole, Joe LaCava exclaimed, “That’s money.”
Team Thomas is paired with Team Woods during Saturday’s opening round, which is fitting as Justin has become one of Tiger’s closest friends on Tour and a big brother of sorts to Charlie, who shares his father’s competitive spirit.
“He always talks about how he’s going to beat me,” Justin said of Charlie. “He’s never done that but he sure talks like he has.”
Tiger famously made his first public appearance with a golf club on the “Mike Douglas Show” at age 2. For Charlie, this 36-hole televised competition represents his coming out party as a golfer and it comes with all the incumbent pressure of being the son of arguably the greatest of all time.
“People at home will get pretty good entertainment out of watching him twirl the club, walk putts in and fist-pump,” Thomas said. “He’s 11 years old. He’s allowed to do that.”