Tiger Woods was left awestruck after his son Charlie demonstrated he is a chip off the old block with a sublime flop shot during a practice session at the 2023 PNC Championship. The father-son duo are at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando to take part in the family team event for a fourth year running.
The 15-time Major championships victor is stepping up his comeback from surgery on his ankle earlier this year, with his second event since the Masters in April. The American hero previously appeared at the Hero World Challenge last month as he sets his sights on a full return to the PGA Tour in 2024.
The 48-year-old finished 20 strokes behind the eventually winner Scottie Scheffler and 18th out of 20 in the Bahamas but appeared delighted to have returned to the course pain-free. On his latest return to action, Woods appeared to be relishing the opportunity to bond with his 14-year-old son Charlie.
Having arrived for Friday’s Pro-Am, the pair wasted no time in getting used to their surroundings again, with the five-time Masters winner’s boy demonstrating considerable promise. Showing the apple never falls far from the tree, young Charlie even left his world-famous dad impressed with his efforts at one point.
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In a heartwarming scene for those present, Charlie hit a shot that dad would have been pleased with, as they warmed up together on the 36-hole course. Exhibiting all the hallmarks that saw his father become one the greatest golfers of all time, he took a full backswing before effortlessly hitting a flop shot.
The moment showed the closeness between the duo as they shared a brief smile, before dad Tiger started clapping slowly as he struggled to contain his pride. As they wrapped up their warm-up, the iconic superstar then blurted out: “The ending on that right there, that was nasty. F****** nasty.”
They will tee off alongside close family friends Justin Thomas and his dad Mike as they tee off on Saturday afternoon at the event in Florida. For the fourth year running, the quartet will join each other the first couple of rounds at the tournament.
The moment shared between Tiger and Charlie showed how they appear to share a close relationship, especially when on the golf course together. Duly, the former world No.1 previously spoke of his joy at appearing at events of this kind alongside his son.
He told ESPN: “Any time I get a chance to spend time with my son, it’s always special and to do it in a competitive forum, the last couple of years have been magical, and to be able to do it again, we’re looking forward to it.”
Tiger also caddied for his son at the Last Chance Regional in Florida in September 2023 and the former opened up on the importance they both place on spending time together on the course, saying: “We just stay in our own little world. We take it one shot at a time.”