Charlie Woods hits hole-in-one but he and Tiger lose in playoff at PNC Championship

Charlie Woods achieved his first-ever hole-in-one, Tiger Woods delivered a stunning driver off the deck, and the father-son duo posted remarkable rounds of 59 and 57, earning them a spot in their inaugural PNC Championship playoff.https://wordpress.com/

However, their impressive performance wasn’t enough to outplay 67-year-old Bernhard Langer and his son Jason. Bernhard sank an eagle putt on the second playoff hole on Sunday, securing his sixth PNC title and Jason’s fourth.

The PNC Championship, held annually at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, lived up to its reputation as a thrilling parent/child (or grandchild) tournament. This year’s event brought even more excitement, thanks to Tiger’s legendary presence and Charlie’s breakthrough performance on Sunday.

The 15-year-old Charlie made headlines with a spectacular shot on the par-3 4th hole, hitting a 7-iron from 178 yards. The ball landed just a few feet from the pin before rolling into the cup, earning Charlie his first ace and propelling the Woods duo into the lead at 17-under-par during the final round.

As the crowd erupted in cheers, Charlie turned to his father in astonishment, and Tiger embraced him proudly.

“You’re buying,” Tiger quipped to Charlie as they waited for the Langers to finish their play.

“I’m broke,” Charlie jokingly replied.

This year marked the fifth time Tiger and Charlie participated in the PNC Championship, joined by Tiger’s daughter, Sam, who carried his bag. The event’s scramble format encouraged bold play, and Tiger didn’t disappoint. On the par-5 14th, he hit a powerful driver from 280 yards out, landing his ball on the green and setting up a birdie that took their score to 25-under-par.

Heading into the 18th hole, the Woods and Langers were tied at 27-under-par, breaking the previous scoring record set by John Daly and his son in 2021. The final hole saw an unusual setup with players teeing off from three different boxes: Tiger from the back, Charlie and Jason from a closer position, and Bernhard from the most forward tees. Both teams birdied, advancing to the playoff.

On the second playoff hole, Charlie’s eagle putt narrowly missed, leaving him on his knees in disbelief, while Tiger’s attempt drifted left. Bernhard capitalized on the opportunity, sinking his eagle putt to clinch the win. The Langers have now claimed consecutive titles and added to their PNC legacy, which began with their first win in 2014 when Charlie was just five years old.

The event also showcased Tiger’s resilience following back surgery in September, as he walked all three days rather than using a golf cart, an option available to participants. Despite this, Tiger downplayed any speculation about his competitive return in 2025.

“I’m nowhere near competitive shape. I’m just a great scramble partner,” Tiger joked during a post-round interview with NBC.

The 20-team field featured a mix of current stars and legends from the PGA and LPGA Tours, including Nelly Korda, Vijay Singh, Lee Trevino, Annika Sorenstam, and Gary Player, adding even more prestige to this beloved family-oriented competition.