ORLANDO, FL — Vijay Singh and his son finally cashed in their 16th attempt at the PNC Championship. For Tiger Woods, he was able to have a great week with his son in his one tournament where no one had a bad time.
13-year-old Charlie Woods said, “It was great to be with my dad after working so hard to get here.”
It feels even better for three-time major champion Singh, who made his first PNC Championship appearance in 2003 when his son Kas was just 13 years old. They became the first team in tournament history to record sub-60 scores in both rounds.
They finished 26-under 118, two strokes ahead of defending champion John Daly and his son, and 2020 winner Justin Thomas and his father.
“This is something we’ve wanted forever,” said Qass, who is now 32 and works for an insurance company.
“Sixteen years,” his father interjected.
“It’s been too long, but it’s about time,” Kass said. “So I’m so excited. I’m so happy. I’m just making this because it’s already been an amazing week… I can’t put it into words. It’s going to be a memory that will last forever.”
Woods and his son hit a bogey on the par-4 seventh hole and fell out when both drove into the woods. They placed 8th in a field of 20 teams.
Kentucky’s longtime club pro Thomas and his father, Mike, appeared headed for another title until birdies dried up on the back nine.
Around the time Little John Daly rolled an 18-foot eagle putt from off the green to reach 24-under at 59, Kass Singh ran a hybrid to about four feet for an eagle on the par-5 14th. I hit a shot.
For Team Woods, their best shot came on Saturday, placing them in the final group and leaving hopes of winning the Willie Park Trophy.
On Sunday, Woods hit the approach to 15 feet on the par-5 5th hole, and Charlie extended his right fist in celebration as he holed in an eagle putt to get within two shots of the lead. But at least when it comes to golf, it was awesome.
In his third year at the event, it was the first time Woods allowed his son to participate in an interview, which he did.
“I think I already knew what he could do. said Charlie.
“The old days were good,” Woods replied.
Woods said he received a text message to “wind the clock back” after hitting the 3-iron on the 18th hole on Saturday night.
Woods said he still has all the shots. He was karting on his PGA Tour in his Champions-sanctioned event, but had a limp due to plantar fasciitis in his right leg.
But he had a lot of pop, and he let Justin Thomas know. Woods passed his PGA champion Thomas, 29, by one on his fifth hole. He quickly zoomed in on the fairway, leaving a note next to Thomas’ ball that read, “Mail has arrived.”
Thomas was hoping for the final word if he and his father could win again. That drive is one of those.
“What I said yesterday was no joke. When he’s in good shape, he’s been with the driver longer than I’ve been with him,” said Thomas. “But I’m sure he’ll trade 10-yard distances just to be able to walk every day and feel better. But yeah, it’s very impressive. Problem.”
These other issues were not going to keep him from a tournament that meant a lot to Woods at this point in his career. I don’t know when he can come back in 2023.
The Thomas clan has become a large family. Woods’ caddy is Joe LaCaba, whose son works for Charlie at this tournament.
“We had the most amazing time on the ropes with each other,” Woods said.
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