The PNC Championship – formerly known as the Father/Son Challenge – was a wonderful moment for Tiger Woods to experience the highs and lows on a golf course with his son, Charlie.
And the sporting world lapped up the young cub’s uncanny similarity to his famous father, envisaging what the future could hold for the promising young talent.
It also signalled the first time since the 2009 President’s Cup that Wood’s ex-wife Elin Nordegren has been spotted on the same golf course as her former husband.
The 40-year-old Swede divorced Woods in 2010 after exposing his infamous infidelity – with Woods said to have slept with dozens of other women while they were married.
The couple have two children together – youngest son Charlie and elder daughter Sam – who was also on hand in Orlando to cheer on dad and little brother.
In what could have made for an awkward union, Woods’ current girlfriend, Erica Herman, was also seen watching the tournament unfold, while chatting with Woods’ ex-wife and daughter.
Herman and Woods have been dating since 2017 and the 36-year-old’s presence made it a family affair as all three ladies showed their support for Tiger and Charlie.
Although the pair were beaten by Justin Thomas and his father, Mike, the two Woods men in their matching Sunday red and black outfits, undoubtedly stole the show.
The pair finished six spots back on the leaderboard but drew most of the attention at the Orlando event held for major winners and their families.
The weekend served as a coming-out party for 11-year-old Charlie, who wore Sunday red and helped his dad to a seventh-place score of 20-under par at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.
He also celebrated a good putt with a signature Tiger fist pump — the iconic celebration of his father’s that’s older than he is.
The pair shot a 10-under 62 on the second day of the two-day scramble. But it wasn’t about the scoreboard for Woods — as it so often is. The 44-year-old who bonded with his late father on the golf course in his youth talked about the chance to do so with Charlie ahead of the tournament.
“It was incredibly special for us to have the opportunity to spend the quality time we had,” Woods said.
“It’s memories we’ll have for our entire lives.”
The young Woods frequently carried his father over the course of a tournament in which they combined for a whopping 16 birdies, three eagles and just two bogeys for a 20-under total.
Young Charlie’s drives found the fairway with a a staggering degree of consistency, his approach shots were excellent and he sank some clutch putts to leave viewers and his famous father gushing with excitement.
Although Woods is a notoriously private person, he was confident Charlie was ready to step up onto the big stage and handle the exposure that comes with it.
Woods admitted that when it came to the extraordinary interest in his son though, that he was keen to keep Charlie out of the intense media glare.
“I’m trying to make sure Charlie is in the right environment, that he’s sheltered,” Woods revealed after the event.
“He’s away from all of this [media], what I have to do – make sure I do all of it so he can practice and play and make sure he can enjoy the golf side of it.
“I will take care of all of this stuff. Making sure he’s able to have fun just playing the game of golf.”
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
Source: Tampa Bay Times