You can’t legally bet on the PNC Championship, but if you could, Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods would certainly be one of the favourites coming off a runner-up to Team Daly last year. A last-minute wrinkle this year, however, is going to make Team Woods’ path to victory a lot tougher — and longer.
On Wednesday, Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported that the 13-year-old Charlie is moving back not one, but two tee boxes for this week’s competition. It’s probably the correct and fair move considering Woods said Charlie recently outdrove him, but it’s also going to make shooting a two-day total of 25-under again more challenging.
Charlie Woods will play one up from the championship tees at the @PNCchampionship which is two tees back from where he played last year. As for now, the committee deciding with his length 13 yo Charlie will play from the same tee as @VijaySinghGolf, @PGA_JohnDaly & @NellyKorda.
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) December 14, 2022
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As you can see, Charlie still won’t be playing the tips like his dad, but he’ll be playing from the same tees as senior pros such as John Daly and Vijay Singh as well as LPGA star Nelly Korda. That’s a lot of respect for the young man!
But it also could have an effect on his old man. A familiar sight during last year’s tournament was Tiger watching Charlie tee off first up ahead and then not even bothering to hit his own drive before hopping back in a golf cart. The two reeled off a tournament record 11 consecutive birdies during the final round. Now they might need to use Tiger’s tee shots more. Meaning more exertion for the 15-time major champ battling plantar fasciitis among other physical ailments as he nears his 47th birthday at the end of the month.
Lewis said in a later tweet that Charlie will be playing from the tees measuring 6,754 yards on the card at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club’s Lakes Course in Orlando. The course tips out at more than 7,100 yards.
The PNC Championship may be part of golf’s unofficial silly season, but its participants still want to win prize money and bragging rights. At the very least, though, those playing this week are bound to make amazing memories — regardless of what tees they play from.
UPDATE: Apparently, the tournament committee has changed its mind:
The committee for the @PNCchampionship reconsidered and decided to move Charlie Woods to the tee markers designed for 65-72 yo male pros, LPGA pros over 50 & family members age 12-13 yo. Charlie is 13 and will now play at 6,452 yds instead of 6,754 yds as previously planned.
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) December 15, 2022
It’s still farther back than Charlie played a year ago, but it also seems like a fair compromise. He is only 13 after all. And thus ends #Teegate. We think. For now.
