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Tiger Woods’ 11-year-old son Charlie became a national phenomenon while competing alongside his dad at the PNC Championship, a father/son scramble at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. The Woodses finished with a 62 in the both rounds of the 36-hole event, placing seventh overall at -20, but it sure felt like no one was having more fun than them during the weekend.
Justin Thomas and his father Mike won the event by one shot over Vijay and Qass Singh. The PNC Championship is limited to players who have won a major or The Players Championship.
Charlie Woods showed off a beautiful swing and copied his father’s mannerisms to a tee during his debut round at the PNC Championship. He even wore a red shirt on Sunday, just like his dad. This is one of the feel-good sports stories of the year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Charlie Woods eagled a hole by himself
Charlie Woods eagled the third hole, a par five, using only his own shots. Woods, playing from tees that were considerably closer than the adults, drove the ball into fairway, then blasted a five-wood from 175 yards out onto the green inches away from the hole. He drained the putt to complete the eagle.
Father and son teaming up.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 19, 2020
Tiger and Charlie Woods make eagle
(via @PGATOUR) pic.twitter.com/qFBLzIG1JN
Charlie Woods wore red on Sunday
How cool is this?
Tiger and Charlie Woods in their Sunday red pic.twitter.com/QcdGDM4eZF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 20, 2020
Charlie Woods’ swing looks pure
How does an 11-year-old’s swing look this good?
11 years old.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 19, 2020
Plenty of power. pic.twitter.com/2Uho7v6uYR
Seeing double. pic.twitter.com/QXxUmAYtRv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 20, 2020
Per ESPN, Charlie was routinely hitting 200-yard tee shots, hitting his three wood in the 180-yard range, and hitting a pitching wedge from 100 yards.
Look at this approach shot!
Give me 500 tries to put it this close and I still probably couldn’t do it.
Charlie Woods continues to impress. pic.twitter.com/cZ0iT8LWUn
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 19, 2020
Closest to the pin contest.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 20, 2020
Charlie wins. pic.twitter.com/H0nAOzoAx4
Charlie Woods already has his dad’s fist pump
He probably learned this one from YouTube.
CHARLIE FIST PUMP
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 20, 2020
Just like his dad. @PNCchampionship pic.twitter.com/sIahzZek9E
Pure.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 19, 2020
A different angle of Charlie's approach on 3. pic.twitter.com/ArowcbF6QL
Their mannerisms are so similar
Okay, this is eerie.
Sounds familiar.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 20, 2020
Just like his father. pic.twitter.com/ObSK5oPxAB
Charlie has the club twirl down, too:
... and the twirl. pic.twitter.com/uC9CdcryTa
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 19, 2020
He’s skilled with the putter, too
Drained it:
Charlie Woods is walking in putts. pic.twitter.com/7IAiYwnReV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 19, 2020
Tiger Woods was beaming about his son about the tournament
Charlie’s debut = memories for a lifetime pic.twitter.com/45r0ORC7t5
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 20, 2020
Charlie Woods already knows how to talk trash
During the pro-am prior to the tournament, Charlie had hit a tee shot well to the right on the 13th hole. Mike Thomas, father of Justin, was in the group ahead and left him a not near his ball that read: “Draw Hole.’’ Charlie kept it. And when Mike Thomas’ ball landed in a bunker on that same hole, Charlie pulled out the note and putt it near Thomas’ ball.
Next level trash talking.
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 19, 2020
Charlie Woods left JT a little note on 13. pic.twitter.com/SdkaFs5BDH
The note: pic.twitter.com/LOLUZlPk0y
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 19, 2020
Charlie Woods has won two junior tournaments already
Woods won a nine-hole U.S. Kids event by five shots after shooting a three-under-par 33, per Golf Digest. Two weeks later, he won the PGA South Florida Section tournament by three shots in the 9-to-11 year old division.
Tigers Woods began to play with Charlie more during the pandemic
Tiger and Charlie began playing often during the pandemic at The Medalist, which is considered Tiger’s home course. Here’s what Tiger said after the opening round at the PNC Championship, per ESPN:
“I’ve seen this,” Woods said. “A lot of the shots he’s hit. I’ve seen it this entire year, this entire pandemic. He hit these shots. The few events he’s played in, he’s hit a lot of these shots. But this is a totally different deal.”
Charlie Woods’ mother is Elin Nordegren
Charlie is the youngest of two kids between Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren. He also has a 13-year-old sister Sam.
Charlie Woods’ birthday is February 8, 2009
Here’s a photoshoot of Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren with their two children shortly after Charlie was born, via the San Diego Union Tribune.
LeBron James was impressed by Charlie Woods
This is so !!!!!!!!! Love to see it https://t.co/urLt26CO76
— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 19, 2020
What a cool story. Charlie Woods is only 11 years old, but he already gave us one of the most fun sports moments of the year.