Tiger Woods swung the golf membership as freely as he has in years, and he’s as soon as once more within the hunt to win a golf match, this time alongside his son, Charlie.
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The Woods’ mixed for a superb -13 opening spherical of 59 to carry a share of the lead within the PGA Tour’s two-person, 36-hole dad or mum/little one scramble occasion, the PNC Championship in Florida.
It’s the first time the Woods identify has been a prime of a leaderboard for the reason that Zozo Championship in 2019, Tiger’s final PGA Tour victory.
Golf followers acquired a glimpse of the 15-time main champion’s return to swinging a membership with a sneak peak video of him testing out the model new TGL simulator earlier this month, and on Sunday morning Australian time, he proved that he’s on observe for the indoor golf league’s debut season in addition to subsequent 12 months’s majors.
The 48-year-old performed all 4 majors in 2024 however solely made the reduce at The Masters, the place he completed sixtieth, as he struggled to stroll the course, and swing freely, as a consequence of a number of again and leg points.
Within the build-up to the PNC Championship, Woods admitted that he was “very, very rusty” after having the sixth again surgical procedure of his profession in September, however NBC Sports activities commentator Dan Hicks was impressed with what he noticed.
“This sport that Tiger is constructing is one of the best we’ve seen (in years), I do know it’s solely the PNC Championship and he’s taking part in together with his son. Tiger even calls it a success and giggle. It’s not an enormous time, elite competitors, however however,” Hicks stated on commentary when Woods bombed a drive on the fifteenth tee.
“He’s placing on a fairly good present right here.
“There’s no hesitation in his swing. No limp.”
Put up-round, Hicks reiterated his feedback.
“It’s been a really, very easy opening spherical for Tiger. The very best we’ve seen him bodily in a very long time,” he stated.
It was Charlie who holed the vast majority of the Woods’ birdie putts, nonetheless, doing so seven occasions.
Taking part in in a gaggle alongside 1997 British Open champion Justin Leonard and his son Luke, Tiger was pressured to take a seat again and take the function of spectator at occasions as Charlie arrange birdies.
The 15-year-old’s boasts spectacular size of the tee however he additionally confirmed delicate contact across the greens.
His stylish bunker shot to arrange a tap-in birdie on the thirteenth was one of many highlights of the day.
“It’s one other nice day of household bonding. We had an excellent day on the market with the Leonards,” Tiger stated.
“Lenny goes to the identical faculty as Sam and Charlie. We’ve all acquired to know one another over time. To be out right here on this surroundings, and to have enjoyable like this, it doesn’t get any higher.
When watching again their highlights post-round, Tiger quipped that he’s “an excellent cheerleader” as a sequence of Charlie’s wonderful pictures and birdie putts have been performed.
He was additionally mightily impressed by his son’s improvement.
“Each 12 months, he’s gotten larger and stronger and higher. He’s rising up within the sport, and it’s enjoyable to see the event over time,” Tiger stated.
“To have the ability to have these experiences with Charlie, and stroll contained in the ropes, usually the banter is towards one another. Just about every day. This week is for one another, and we’re rooting so exhausting for every of us to tug of every shot that we would like.”
The 20-team subject consists of the likes of 89-year-old nine-time main champion Gary Participant, and his grandson Alexander Corridor, ten-time girls’s main champion Annika Sorenstam, and her son Will McGee, and present girls’s world primary Nelly Korda, and her Australian Open profitable, former tennis participant father Petr.
However amongst so most of the sport’s nice, it was John Daly’s antics on the vary that created one of many moments of the day.
The 2-time main champion, who holds the file for the bottom rating on this occasion (-27) together with his son John Daly II, hit one drive and stated to the digital camera “that’s me carried out”.
“I’m good. I simply popped all the things,” he stated with a chuckle.
The ultimate spherical of the PNC Championship might be broadcast reside on Fox Sports activities and Kayo from 3.30am to eight.3oam AEDT on Monday.