ORLANDO – Tiger Woods and Charlie took to the microphones Sunday at PNC Championship. They were asked what they had learned from each other this week.
Charlie, 13 years old, noted that he knew his father’s capabilities, but the first round at PNC taught him more.
Charlie said, “That’s his best in a while,” and “that kind of shocked me a bit.”
A smiley Tiger replied, “I used be good.”
Tiger said, “Again it was cool to be able to turn back the clock so he could see what I used be able of.” Bones was the one who gave me some grief. He knows how I used to do things. Bones enjoyed that yesterday.
Team Woods opened the tournament with a 59 at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. They were trailed by two going into the final round. After a 65 in the second round, they fell to eighth.
Jim “Bones”, Mackay was at Justin Thomas’s bag this week, and had a front row seat to Woods throughout the weekend.
Mackay stated, “As impressed and as impressed as I was about Charlie,” but he was “that much more impressed with Tiger in terms his whereabouts.”
This week Padraig Harrington was the talk of the town with his prediction that Woods would win another major.
After Sunday’s round, Harrington said, “Did he see the 3-iron that he hit into 18 yesterday?” Harrington continued, “There are not many golfers who can hit that shot at 159 ball speed off the fairway with an Iron, and knowing that his irons have quite some loft, that’s an impressive strike.”
Charlie Woods hits his shot from the first fairway while Tiger Woods watches in the background during the final round at the 2022 PNC Championship at Ritz Carlton Golf Club, Orlando. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Mackay was also impressed by Woods’ speed and noted that next year will be a Ryder Cup Year: “Let’s not put any doubts about the guy.”
Mackay had flashbacks to peak Tiger watching Woods make putts in the middle of Saturday’s round, hitting them dead center at the perfect speed.
Mackay said, “I’m excited because he’s going out there and make lots more noise and give some guys who would love dearly for him to play with them late on Sunday an impression of what it was like.”
Team Woods, also known by “Team Ice Bath”, struggled with Tiger’s plantar faciitis and Charlie’s bum left leg throughout the weekend. Tiger claimed they looked like walking penguins, but he noted that it was the bonding time among all members of the Woods and Thomas crew, including all the ribbing, that mattered the most.
Justin Thomas took the microphone to ask Charlie about the history of his Snoopy hat.
Charlie said, “Well, it’s the one that I had in my closet, and it fits the best.”
Tiger smiled broadly: “Great answer.”
