Tiger Woods and son Charlie pipped in PNC Championship in Florida

Tiger Woods was denied a winning return to golf 10 months on from a life-threatening car crash despite reeling off 11 birdies in a row with his son Charlie in the PNC Championship in Florida.
Charlie and Tiger Woods during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.Charlie and Tiger Woods during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.
Charlie and Tiger Woods during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.

Playing in the event for just the second time, Team Woods lost out by two shots to John Daly and his son, John jnr, following a dramatic second and final round at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.

Three shots off the lead at the start of the day, Tiger and Charlie burst out of the blocks with two birdies and an eagle in the opening three holes.

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With 12-year-old Charlie playing a starring role, they then went on their incredible birdie run from the seventh.

John Daly and his son, also John, celebrate after winning the PNC Championship on their sixth apperance in the event. Picture: Brian WilliamsJohn Daly and his son, also John, celebrate after winning the PNC Championship on their sixth apperance in the event. Picture: Brian Williams
John Daly and his son, also John, celebrate after winning the PNC Championship on their sixth apperance in the event. Picture: Brian Williams

Even in a scramble, it was impressive stuff as Team Woods went 3-2-3-3-3-2-3-4-3-3-2 to give themselves a chance of landing victory,

But, after briefly sharing the lead following the last of those birdies, a par-5 to finish saw them come up just short.

Carding a 57 for a 15-under total, they finished two shots behind Team Daly in second place, which, under the circumstances, was still a remarkable effort.

Woods, after all, suffered multiple fractures to his right in the single-car accident in Los Angeles in February.

“We thought we would probably have to birdie every hole on that back nine or, if not, eight out of nine to have a chance,” said the 15-time major winner. “And it turned out to be that way.

“We were on a run when we got to the last hole, but we still maybe needed a 3 (at the par-5) to get in a play-off or make it interesting for the Dalys back there.

“But, man, what a blast it was. Playing with Kuch (Matt Kuchar] and his son Cam, we just had a blast all day.”

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Referring to Charlie, he added; “I told him at the beginning of the day, ‘18 looks’. We are both good putters and we can putt. It got interesting and tight towards the end, which was fun.”

It remains to be seen when Woods will be able to play 18 holes without needing a buggy, as he was permitted to do in this event, but it’s a week he certainly enjoyed again.

“Well, the fact I had my son there, he’s an unbelievable player and an unbelievable partner and I thought we had a great strategy going in, especially after we played the practice round on Friday,” he said.

“I thought we were going to be in there and our whole goal was never to make a bogey for two days. Last year we made two and this year we didn’t make any.”

Winning on their sixth appearance in the event, Team Daly shot a tournament record as finishing on 27-under on the back of rounds of 60-57.

“It's up there,” said two-time major winner Daly of what the win meant to him. “You can't beat it. For fathers, as we’re on the Senior Tour, we're not playing the British Opens and majors competitive like I used to.

“I can still play the British Open and the PGA but nothing comes close. I've always told the media for years, the greatest days of my life were seeing my kids born. You can't top that. To be here and win a big tournament like this with my son, nothing can beat it.”

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