The PNC Championship is a two-day, 18-hole family golf tournament for couples or parents/𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren in scramble format. For fans, it’s a great way to test the form of parents, often renowned golfers, and gauge the development of their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren.
This is the fourth time Tiger Woods and his son Charlie have played in the PNC Championship. The first time was when Charlie was 11, and now he is 14. The father-son duo’s best finish came in 2021, when they finished second behind John Daly and his son John Daly II. Charlie came in as the Florida high school champion this year, and they are aiming for the top spot.
However, few people care about the results. After all, Woods has only just returned from a long break. At the Hero World Challenge earlier this month, he finished 18th out of 20 golfers. At the PNC Championship, all eyes are on Woods walking alongside his son, while looking for signs of a talented golfer in Charlie.
Tiger Woods and his son Charlie on the first day of the PNC Championship.
On the first day of the competition on December 16, while other golfers traveled by electric cart, Woods and his son walked all 18 holes of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. The man who had a terrible car accident in early 2021 said “walking is better for your back”. At the same time, he also shared that there is a lot of fun in playing golf with his son, and he wants to enjoy this time.
Therefore, there are also countless interesting moments created by Woods and his son Charlie. That is when the golfer who is about to turn 48 teased his son after a shot that hit the edge of a bunker, or when Charlie teased him after his father decided to use a driver on the fairway. But what surprised everyone was the amazing similarity between Charlie and Woods, from the way they stepped up to the tee, swung, to the way they collected the club, caught the ball or celebrated.
Even Woods admits this, like he accepts that his son is behind him, because he can hit the ball farther, and put it on the green where he can’t. “It annoys me when he picks up the club and turns away and doesn’t watch where the ball goes. But I’ve seen that happen my whole career. So it’s like looking in the mirror,” the 15-time major champion said.
It’s easy to see the similarities in every gesture and action between father and son.
However, it’s quite certain that Woods did not train his son the way his father Earl Woods did. A veteran, Earl began molding Woods when his son was still a toddler, then did not hesitate to apply beatings and psychological torture methods to create a winning machine.
The desire to win and the competitive spirit are traits that Woods has cultivated. But he doesn’t mind if his son develops in a different direction. “It’s about having fun,” Woods said. “Whatever Charlie wants to do, he’s going to be great.”
That’s why Woods doesn’t want his son to try to imitate him. “Don’t take after Dad. Take after Rory McIlroy. He’s the world number one right now, and you’ll never see McIlroy off balance with a shot,” Woods said, referring to Charlie’s swing.
But like it or not, Charlie is still a perfect copy of his great dad.
