Tiger Woods makes news anytime he tees it up, and especially so this week playing with his 14-year-old son Charlie at the PNC Championship in Orlando.
However, he has a new caddie at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, and one he’s plenty familiar with. His 16-year-old daughter, Sam.
Sam has been in the public eye with dad before, introducing Woods at his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame. But this is the first time she has been on the bag, meaning a family affair on a rainy Saturday in central Florida.
“Sam was fantastic,” Tiger said. “This is the first time she’s ever done this, so it couldn’t have been any more special for all of us.
“For me to have both my kids inside the ropes like this and participating and playing and being part of the game of golf like this, it couldn’t have been more special for me, and I know that we do this a lot at home, needle each other and have a great time. But it was more special to do it in a tournament like this.”
Tiger is indeed still searching for a full-time caddie, as former bag man Joe LaCava is now looping for Patrick Cantlay. Two weeks ago at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, longtime friend and business partner Rob McNamara caddied for Woods.
Photos: Tiger and Charlie at the PNC Championship
LaCava’s son, Joe Jr., has been on the bag for Charlie the past three years. This year, it’s his high school teammate Luke Wise. The duo won a team state title last month for Benjamin.
Team Woods finished at 8-under 64 after the first round, seven shots behind Team Kuchar.
Meanwhile, how is Tiger as a caddie for Charlie in his junior events? He poked some fun at dad.
“For Dad as a caddie, his reads are hook-bias, and I don’t hook as much as he does,” Charlie said. “So all of my putts, I miss right. So I have to account for that.”