Duo’s birdie blitz falls short at PNC Championship
Tiger Woods narrowly missed out on a fairy-tale victory in his return to competitive golf on Sunday after a final-round birdie blitz came up short at the PNC Championship family tournament in Florida.
Woods, playing in his first event since suffering career-threatening injuries in a car crash 10 months ago, reeled off 11 consecutive birdies alongside his 12-year-old son Charlie to card a 15-under-par 57 to finish on 25-under-par in the two-round tournament at the Ritz Carlton Golf Course in Orlando.
However the Woods duo were unable to close with a 12th birdie on the par-five 18th hole, settling for par and missing the chance to put the pressure on two-time major champion John Daly, playing with his son John Daly II.
The Daly duo eventually closed with a birdie to match the Woods’ second-round 57 and finish on 27-under-par for a two-shot victory.
A weary Woods, who almost needed to have his shattered right leg amputated after his car crash in Los Angeles in February, said afterward he was simply grateful to be playing again.
“I’m just happy and thankful that I’m able to do this,” Woods told NBC television.
“I still have my own leg, which was questionable for a while, and it’s functioning. I’m just really tired – I’m not used to this.”
Woods said he and his son had set a pre-tournament target of playing two bogey-free rounds which they had achieved.
“Our whole goal for the two days was don’t make any bogeys – last year we made two – and we didn’t make any,” Woods said.
“We felt we’d have to birdie every hole on the back nine to have a chance. It got interesting and a little tight toward the end, which was fun.”
Woods, who returned from 2017 spinal fusion surgery to win his fifth Masters title, and 15th major crown, in 2019, has called this injury rehabilitation the hardest of many in his career.
He said this week that he had a “long way to go” to be able to return to top-flight golf, even on a part-time basis.
The 45-year-old said at his tournament in the Bahamas that he expects his post-accident career to mirror that of golfing great Ben Hogan, who was badly injured in a 1949 accident.
Hogan, who won 64 PGA Tour events and nine majors, never played more than nine tournaments in a season following the accident.
And he strongly disagreed with fellow pro Matt Kuchar’s assessment that apart from his inability to walk the course his game was ready for PGA Tour-level competition.
“No, no, no, no,” Woods said. “I totally disagree. I’m not at that level. I can’t compete against these guys right now, no.”
But the week in Orlando was a welcome chance to play with Charlie for the second year in a row.
“Even a couple of weeks ago we didn’t really know whether or not I would be doing this, but here we are,” Woods said. “And we just had the best time ever.
“I just wish I could have walked down the fairways with him and been side-by-side with him the entire time like we were last year.
“But I did what I could,” added Woods, who said his “competitive juices” will never go away whatever his physical limitations.
Tiger Woods and his son Charlie Woods celebrate a birdie on the 12th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship on December 19, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Photo: VCG
