Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie, made a valiant run at their first PNC Championship title in five attempts.
But they ran into the defending champions.
Bernhard Langer and his 24-year-old son, Jason, a former college player at Penn and an investment banker in New York City, took down Team Woods in a playoff on Sunday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. The elder Langer, 67, sank an 18-footer for eagle on the second trip down the par-5 18th hole to seal the win, Langer’s fourth at the PNC with Jason and record sixth overall (he also won twice with his other son Stefan).
The Woodses finished runner-up for the second time, following their T-2 behind John Daly and John Daly II in 2021.
“I know most of you would’ve loved to have had Tiger here, and Charlie,” Bernhard Langer told the crowd during the trophy presentation. “I’m convinced they’re going to win this several times in the near future. They’re just too good. … It won’t take them long, I promise you that.”
Charlie Woods, 15, had the highlight of the day, holing a 7-iron from 175 yards at the par-3 fourth hole, which pushed he and his dad into the solo lead. The Langers, co-leaders with the Woodses after opening 59s, would not go away, though. They eagled the par-5 fifth hole and would match Tiger and Charlie’s second-round, 15-under 57.
On the playoff hole, Charlie hit the hole with an eagle putt from about 25 feet. Tiger couldn’t convert his try after that, setting the stage for Langer’s winning eagle.
“It was awesome,” Charlie said afterward. “No one made a mistake today. It was the most fun I’ve ever had.”
No other teams finished within four shots of the 28-under scores posted by the Langers and Woodses, who each set the championship record.
“This is the fifth major for me because I love this tournament,” Bernhard Langer said. “I just love playing with my kids. … And I truly enjoyed playing with Tiger and Charlie. They are such wonderful competitors and great human-beings. It was fun to see the two of them out there together, and when Charlie made that hole-in-one, I’ve never seen Tiger happier.”
