Tiger, son Charlie get lead share

MIAMI (AFP) — Tiger Woods and his 15-year-old son Charlie combined for a 13-under par 59 to share the lead after Saturday’s first round of the PNC Championship parent-child golf event.

Charlie Woods tapped in for birdie at the par-5 18th hole, the 13th birdie of the day for Team Woods in the 36-hole matchup between 20 duos at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.

“We picked each other up, which was great, and Charlie made pretty much most of the putts,” Tiger Woods said.

Sharing the halfway lead were Fijian Vijay Singh and son Qass and Germany’s Bernhard Langer and son Jason, who each had 11 birdies and an eagle on the day.

In a low-key return to competition following September back surgery that included golf carts and a family atmosphere, the elder Woods had his daughter Sam as his caddie.

“I’m just trying to have fun out here,” 15-time major champion Woods said. “I’m very rusty and it’s a scramble, so we’re just trying to have fun out there. Ham-and-egg each other.”

“I think we did that great pretty much the entire day.”

Woods, who turns 49 on 30 December, said he has “a long way to go” before he will be ready to compete in a PGA Tour tournament after his back operation and lingering leg issues from a 2021 car crash.

Woods hit well off the tee, saying, “It was OK,” and Charlie noting, “You’re keeping up with me.”

“These are big fairways and I can let it go a little bit from time to time,” Tiger Woods added.

Team Woods is making a fifth attempt at the title, having once managed a runner-up showing.

“We’re right there,” Tiger Woods said. “We’re going to have to shoot another good round tomorrow. And you know, make a bunch of birdies. Hopefully we can do that and get off to a good start, and then develop it into the back nine.”

Asked if his competitiveness might kick in for a tight back-nine fight Sunday, Tiger Woods replied, “It’s always there.”