ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods' son made his first hole-in-one, but the key shot Sunday was Bernhard Langer's 18-foot eagle putt in a playoff , defeated his opponent Woods and his son Charlie in a wonderful duel at the PNC Championship.
Lange and 24-year-old son Jason won for the second year in a row, and the 67-year-old German has now partnered with his two sons to win back-to-back titles at the PNC Championship.
They put on a great show at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, especially when 15-year-old Charlie hit his first ace with a 7-iron on the par-3 fourth hole, and his dad gave him a Big hug and reminder: he has to buy everyone a drink.
“I'm broke,” Charlie replied.
Even in defeat, Charlie said the hole-in-one, the exciting final round, the playoff, everything, were the most fun things he had ever experienced on the golf course.
“Not even close,” Charlie said.
His father agreed.
“Being able to spend that moment with Charlie, scoring his first hole-in-one, was the most exciting thing in my life. [daughter] Sam is on the bag, just our family and friends,” Tiger Woods said. “That's what this event is about. It's about connection and family.
“I know we didn't win, but that's the fact that we competed. No one really made a mistake. We had to win and that's what you want. Hats off to Langers. They played great.”
Padraig Harrington's 21-year-old son Paddy also hit his first career score on the 214-yard par-3 eighth shortly after Charlie's match. an ace, sparking another celebration.
Langer and Woods each shot 15-under-par 57 in the scramble. Each team only shot 4 pars. They set a championship record of 28-under-par 116.
Woods, playing for the first time since having his sixth lower back surgery in September, moved well and made clutch shots. He hit driver off the deck on the par-5 14th.
Langer then hit his driver out of the bunker on the hole and almost found the green, landing in a greenside bunker.
“That's one of the best shots I've ever seen,” Woods said of Langer, who turned pro three years before Woods was born.
In the playoff, Langer had an advantage on the par-5 holes because of his age. He hit the third set of tees, 82 yards ahead of where Woods had to play and 52 yards ahead of where his two sons hit.
Charlie had just reached the front of the green. His 25-foot eagle putt found the hole but was too fast. Woods misses low. Jason Langer hit the ball from 18 feet and left the chance to win to his aging father.
For Woods, it's his first playoff appearance since Zach Johnson beat him at Sherwood in 2013 at the World Challenge.
On a cold afternoon, every seat in the stands behind the 18th green was filled, and the fairways were packed with jacket-wearing fans. It's fun and a rare opportunity to see Woods on the golf course. It was his first game since back surgery in September. His last event was the British Open in July.
When Charlie's eagle putt in the playoff approached the hole, he was preparing to pump his fist. When Langer's winning putt fell, he had his arms in the air.
It's been another amazing year for two-time Masters champion Langer. He tore his Achilles while playing pickleball at the beginning of the year, recovered four months later and won for his 18th consecutive season, extending his streak of PGA Tour titles over 50 years old.
He now has six titles at the PNC Championship – four with Jason and two with Stefan, who caddies for his brother.
No one else was within five strokes, with Harrington in a tie for third.
“I'm so excited. You can't possibly talk to me,” Harrington said of his son's hole-in-one. “I'm leaving. It was a great tournament, everything was great. We tried to play well, but it was just pure joy.”
The tournament is open to the Grand Slam winner of any Tour or Players Championship and their family members.
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