ORLANDO — Tiger Woods and son Charlie stepped up to the mics once more Sunday at PNC Championship, where they were asked what they’d learned about each other this week.
Charlie, 13, noted that he, of course, knew what his father was capable of, but that first round at the PNC showed him something more.
“That’s the best he’s ever played in a while,” said Charlie, “and that kind of shocked me a little bit.”
A smiling Tiger responded with, “I used to be good.
“Again, it was neat to be able to roll back the clock for him to see what I used to be capable of,” Tiger continued. “I was given some grief – anyone that knows what I used to be able to do was Bones. Bones got a big kick out of that yesterday.”
Team Woods opened with a 59 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and trailed by two heading into the final round of the PNC. They dipped down to a share of eighth after a second-round 65.
Jim “Bones” Mackay was on the bag for Justin Thomas this week and got a front-row seat to Woods all weekend.
“As impressed as I was with Charlie,” said Mackay, “I was that much or more impressed with Tiger in terms of where he is.”
Earlier this week, Padraig Harrington made headlines with his prediction that Woods will win another major.
“Did you see the 3-iron he hit into 18 yesterday?” Harrington continued after Sunday’s round. “There’s not many in the world of golf that could hit that shot, 159 ball speed, off the fairway with an iron and knowing his irons have quite a bit of loft, that’s a very impressive strike.”
Mackay, who was also taken with Woods’ speed, noted that next year is a Ryder Cup year: “Let’s not put anything past the guy.”
Watching Woods pour in putts dead center at the perfect speed in the middle of Saturday’s round gave Mackay flashbacks to peak Tiger.
“I’m excited,” said Mackay, “because I think he’s going to come out there and make plenty more noise and give some of those guys who would love dearly to play with him late on Sunday an idea of what it was like.”
Team Woods, also known as “Team Ice Bath,” struggled physically throughout the weekend with Tiger’s plantar fasciitis and Charlie’s bum left ankle. Tiger said they looked like walking penguins out there, but noted that the bonding time between all involved in the Woods and Thomas crew – including all the ribbing – is what mattered most.
To that end, Justin Thomas stepped up to the mic to ask Charlie for the background on his Snoopy hat.
“Well, it’s the hat that was in my closet and fits the best,” said Charlie, “and that’s all I can say about it.”
Tiger smiled broadly: “Great answer.”
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