Tiger Woods’ participation in the PNC Championship, also known as the year’s fifth major, brought a mix of emotions to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. The event features pro-relative teams, including Woods’ team with his son Charlie, who are tied for the lead.
GOLF staffers Claire Rogers and Nick Piastowski reviewed the play from different locations. Claire is on-site in sunny Orlando, while Nick is at home in the Northeast.
Claire reports a great vibe on the course, with perfect weather and enthusiastic fans. The early morning rounds were packed, with fans lining up for over 200 yards down the fairway. The pro-am event also saw high energy, including an entertaining exchange between Padraig Harrington and Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis.
Nick observes that Woods looks in rhythm, moving well and hitting great shots without any forced movements. He notes that Tiger’s focus is on spending time with his kids rather than intense competition. Their post-round press conference revealed their enthusiasm for having “fun” together.
The course is flat, but the long walk may be a factor. If Woods’ putting improves tomorrow, he could take the lead. However, there are still uncertainties surrounding his performance.
Charlie, Tiger’s teammate, seemed dialed in with his putter and showed great support from his father on the course. Their interaction on the 17th tee was particularly sweet.
In a rapid-fire Q&A session, the duo discussed notable moments from the event. Luke Leonard impressed with consistent play, while John Daly provided an entertaining range ball moment. The most touching moment came when Steve Stricker shared a heartwarming scene with his daughters, and Justin and Luke Leonard’s family hug was also sweet.
As for predictions, many believe it will come down to a battle between Team Woods and Team Langer. However, some analysts think Team Trevino could make a strong push as well.
Finally, the pair discussed their favorite ice cream spot in Orlando – Sloan’s – which Claire had discovered with Golf.com’s James Colgan earlier in the week.
Source: https://golf.com/news/was-tiger-woods-pnc-championship-encouraging-not