Tiger Woods, son Charlie, eye PNC Championship title as field grows stronger

Team Woods will officially return to Orlando for the PNC Championship.

On Wednesday, Tiger Woods and his son Charlie committed to playing in the upcoming family-based tournament. What started as a father-son event has turned into something far more. Major champions or Players Championship winners play with their parents, sons, daughters, or grandchildren.

This year marks the fourth straight PNC Championship for Team Woods. It’s the lone tournament the Big Cat has not missed since his tragic car crash in Feb. 2021. Team Woods’ best finish came in 2021 when they tied for second.

The event has become one of Woods’ favorites to compete in because he gets to do it with Charlie.

“It is an amazing gift to be able to share my love of golf with Charlie, and we genuinely do look forward to playing in the PNC Championship all year,” Woods said in a press release. “Competing together, against a field of so many golfing greats and their families, is so special.”

This year has been full of competitive golf for the Woods’. Charlie has played in multiple events, from qualifying for the Notah Begay III Junior Invitational to helping his high school team win a state championship, all with Dad watching his son play the game they both love.

Woods being on the bag for Charlie at the Notah Begay Jr. Invitational sparked rumors of a potential comeback. Those rumors were true. The 15-time major champion announced his return to the PGA Tour for the Hero World Challenge.

He will tee it up with Charlie for the PNC Championship two weeks later, making two events in less than a month.

Fans love it when Team Woods plays in the PNC Championship. The parallel mannerisms between Big and Little Cat were uncanny. Their interactions together also gave fans something to appreciate. The way Charlie loves to trash talk and aggravate Justin Thomas is also a fan favorite.

It showed how much they and the rest of the field love to compete in this family-based tournament.

Joining the Woods’ is Padraig Harrington, who will compete with his youngest son, Ciaran. Six-time major winner Lee Trevino will make his 26th appearance at the PNC Championship with his grandson Daniel, making him the only golfer to compete in every edition.

Nelly Korda and her father, Petr, are in the field. Annika Sorenstam and her son Will McGee will play. Matt Kuchar and Cameron Kuchar make their return. The only new pairing is Steve Stricker and his daughter Izzi.

The 2023 PNC Championship will be a 36-hole event at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes, on Dec. 14-17.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.