ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods’ son hit his first hole-in-one shot, but it was Bernhard Langer who hit the key shot Sunday — making an 18-foot eagle putt for the win in the playoff. Woods and his son Charlie engage in a fierce duel at the PNC Championship.
Langer and his 24-year-old son Jason have won for the second year in a row, and the 67-year-old German has now won back-to-back PNC Championships with his two sons as partners.
They put on a great show at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, especially when 15-year-old Charlie hit a 7-iron on the par-3 fourth hole for his first ace, received a big hug from his father, and was on his way to the next. It reminded me of that. He had to buy everyone a drink.
“I’m broke,” Charlie replied.
Even though he lost, Charlie said the hole-in-one, the great final round, and the playoffs were all the most fun he had on the golf course.
“Not even close,” Charlie said.
His father agreed.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill to get my first hole-in-one with Charlie and to have (my daughter) Sam in the bag and just have that moment with my family and friends,” Tiger Woods said. “That’s the theme of this event. It’s about bonds and family.
“I know we didn’t win, but it’s true we fought. None of our players really made a mistake. We had to earn it and that’s what you want. That’s it. Hats off to the Rangers. They played great.”
Padraig Harrington’s son Paddy, 21, also sparked another celebration with his first career ace on the 214-yard, par-3 8th just behind Charlie’s.
Team Langer and Team Woods each finished with a 15-under 57 in the scramble format, setting a tournament record of 28-under 116 with only four pars for each team.
Woods, playing for the first time since undergoing his sixth hip surgery in September, moved well and hit important shots. He hit his driver off the deck on the par-5 14th.
Langer then hit his driver out of a bunker on that hole, almost finding the green, and landing in a greenside bunker.
“One of the best shots I’ve ever seen,” Woods said of Langer, who turned pro three years before Woods was born.
In the playoffs, Langer had an advantage on par-5s because of his age. He played his tee shot in the third set 82 yards ahead of where Woods should have played and 52 yards ahead of where his two sons were hitting.
Charlie has just reached the front of the green. His 25-foot eagle putt hit the edge of the hole, but the pace was too fast. Woods missed the low. Jason Langer nailed his approach to 18 feet and left it to his ageless father to make it the winner.
It was Woods’ first playoff appearance since Zach Johnson beat him at Sherwood at the 2013 World Challenge.
On a chilly afternoon, every seat in the grandstand behind the 18th green was occupied, and fans wearing jackets crowded the sides of the fairway. We also had a rare chance to see Woods on the golf course, which was a lot of fun. He played for the first time since having back surgery in September. His last tournament was the British Open in July.
As Charlie neared the hole for his playoff eagle putt, he was preparing for a big fist pump. Langer threw his arms in the air when he hit the winning putt.
Another great year has come to an end for Langer, a two-time Masters champion. He tore his Achilles tendon earlier this year while playing pickleball, but recovered in four months and extended the winning streak for PGA Tour champions over 50 by winning 18 years in a row.
And now he has six PNC Championship titles under his belt. Four of them were with Jason and two with Stefan, who was caddying for his brother.
No other player came within five strokes, and Team Harrington finished tied for third place.
“He was so excited, he couldn’t even talk to me,” Harrington said of watching his son make the hole-in-one. “I’m gone. This is a great event, everything is great. And we try to play well, but it was pure joy.”
This tournament is open to the winners of a Tour major or The Players Championship and their families.
