ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods’ son hit the shot of his life for his first hole-in-one. Bernhard Langer made the shot that counted on Sunday, an 18-foot eagle putt in a playoff to beat Woods and his son Charlie in a terrific duel at the PNC Championship.
Langer and his son Jason won for the second year in a row, and the 67-year-old German has now won back-to-back PNC championships with two sons as partners.
They put on quite a show at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, especially when 15-year-old Charlie hit the 7-iron on the par-3 fourth hole for his first ace, receiving a huge hug from his father and a reminder that he should buy a round of drinks for everyone.
“I’m broke,” Charlie replied.
Even in defeat, Charlie said the hole-in-one, the grand final round, the playoff, everything, was the most fun he had on the golf course.
“It’s not even close,” he said.
His father agreed.
“It was the thrill of my life to be able to have that moment with Charlie, making his first hole-in-one, (daughter) Sam on the bag, just our family and friends. That’s what this event is all about. It’s about connections and family,” Woods said.
“I know we didn’t win, but it’s the fact that we competed,” he said. “No one really made a mistake. We had to earn it, and that’s what you want to have. Hats off to Langers. They played wonderfully.
Team Langer and Team Woods each closed with a 15-under 57 in the melee format, with each team making only four pars, and they set the tournament record at 28-under 116.
In the playoff, Langer had the advantage on the par 5 due to his age. He played the third set of tees, 82 yards in front of where Woods was to play and 52 yards in front of where the two leads were hitting.
Charlie has just reached the front of the green. His 25-foot eagle putt hit the edge of the hole but had too much pace. Woods missed the bottom. Jason Langer reached 18 feet and left it to his ageless father to emerge victorious.
For Woods, it was his first playoff appearance since Zach Johnson beat him at Sherwood in the 2013 World Challenge.
On a cold afternoon, all the seats were filled in the grandstand behind the 18th green, with fans in jackets crowded along the fairway. It was entertaining, with a rare chance to see Woods on the golf course. He was playing for the first time since Lower back surgery in September. Her last competition was the British Open in July.
Charlie was gearing up for a big punch when his playoff eagle putt came close to the hole. Langer threw both arms in the air as his winning putt dropped.
It capped off another incredible year for Langer, a two-time Masters champion. He tore his Achilles tendon playing pickleball earlier this year, recovered in four months and extended his streak on the 50-and-over PGA Tour Champions Tour by winning for 18th consecutive season.
And now he has five PNC Championship titles – three with Jason, two with Stefan, who was a cadet for his little brother.
No one else was within five gunshots. Padraig Harrington and his son Paddy were among those who tied for third, and they had a moment of their own when Paddy had a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth hole.
“I was so excited. You couldn’t have talked to me,” Harrington said as he watched his son hit an ace. “I was gone. It’s a big event, and it’s all great. And we try to play well, but it was pure joy.
The tournament is open to winners of a major tournament on any tour or the Players Championship and one member of their family. The purse barely exceeds a million dollars. Everyone seems to leave happy.
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