Tiger Woods looks happy after defeat? 9 PNC Championship Questions

Once in the hole. plural. over time. The winning putt. Family hugging and shaking hands. (Whoa whoa whoa!) That tiger guy is in contention. It felt almost like a holiday rush at the PNC Championship on Sunday — the pro-match scramble brought an easy end to the professional golf calendar, but the 2024 edition also managed to fit into what seemed like a year-long finale. The story of a day. in the end, Bernhard Lange and son Jason win But there's more going on at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.

So, just like Saturday, we gathered golf staff members Claire Rogers and Nick Piastowski to review the game. Claire on the field in sunny Orlando. Nick is at home in the cold Northeast.

Nick Piastowski (@nickpia): Hello again, Claire! Okay, where to start? Maybe it's a little strange that we would come out of second place, but we have to do it. What does Charlie Woods' hole-in-one look like up close? Where were you when it happened? What did you see? What does it sound like? Give me the details!

Claire Rogers (@kclairerogers): I'm very, very frustrated to say that I was on the fifth tee when it happened. I thought I should watch a few other sets before catching up with Woods and Langer in the morning, but I heard a roar! Thanks to social media, the news spread immediately. Someone outside the rope screamed: “Charlie hit an ace!” Everyone including the volunteers cheered. I soon joined the final group and Charlie was congratulated several times by those in the gallery before the round was over.

gap: Okay, full disclosure time. On the final day of last year's PGA Championship, I designated myself as a writer for Michael Block and prepared to catch him on the final few holes – which meant I then missed his ace. So, long story short, I feel your pain! Back to Sunday's Ace. From what you heard, did the tiger really not see it at all?

Claire: In his postgame interview, he said he wasn't sure the game would go ahead until the TV crew said so. It was definitely a waiting game for them, but once it was confirmed, the Woods started celebrating.

gap: His push to Charlie after the first hug was push. In a way, I've followed Tiger his entire career, and this moment probably made him look more genuinely happy than any other win. I'm curious. You have also been following Tiger for some time. That’s what he seems to resonate with the most – I’m looking for the right words. Like the emotion we saw from him when he won. But this feels different. Am I here? Please fill me in!

Claire: agree! He seemed to really accept it all. The icing on the cake was a great round of golf this week. The PNC Championship is meant to be fun, and Tiger and Charlie (as competitive as they are) really enjoyed that this year. He was laughing and smiling all day long.

gap: What was the atmosphere like after you scored a hole-in-one? The crowd, while not as big as the U.S. Open, seemed interested. Did you hear anything interesting?

Claire: It feels like every other Sunday Tigers team has been in contention. Of course, they deliberately didn't sell as many tickets at the PNC Championship as they did at other events, but the crowds following Woods were still strong. A lot of people were wearing Christmas-themed costumes today, and I can't help but wonder if that's because the only autograph Tiger signed on the field was from a guy dressed as a candy cane earlier in the week. People dressed up as elves, like Santa Claus, in ugly Christmas sweaters, and of course many fans wore Sunday red

gap: After what you tweeted about the candy cane guy, I was wondering how he would demonstrate this. Ready, shoot, aim, I thought. Well, there’s a lot of Woods issues here — but Team Woods didn’t win. It's probably safe to say that the Langers didn't miss out. What impressed you most about this timeless wonder and son living in New York City? (Side note, I need to find where Jason played here and make the connection to whatever he was drinking there.)

Claire: I'd never seen Langer tee off in person until today and I've always been impressed with his approach shots. However, I have realized how good Lange is. What really surprised me was how good his son Jason was at the game. He is 24 years old, played at the University of Pennsylvania and is now an investment banker. I can't imagine he had much time to practice with the demands of living and working in New York. I can't help but wonder what his game would be like if he committed to it full time!

gap: Well, that sounds familiar, but (hopefully management is reading) I love my job! Speaking of which, I think this is the happiest I've ever been to see Tiger after a loss. Sounds good?

Claire: completely. The last time I saw him was after losing the U.S. Open, he was unhappy. Tiger had fun this week and his family had a full support system there. This weekend, classmates and friends traveled the distance to watch them play, and you could tell they really appreciated it. He was smiling a lot this weekend.

gap: Well, after walking with him for three days, have you learned anything? Are you optimistic about 2025? Still have some questions that need answering?

Claire: I'm optimistic! I know, I know. People will be trying to get discounts this week, but that's the reality. He played 18 holes for three consecutive days. He looked comfortable and, despite being rusty, he played some great golf. He enjoyed it! I'm already looking forward to Ultima and the main season.

gap: Of course, walking will be the biggest reward. We've seen him limp before at PNC, but not this year. But I'm still a little unsure why he didn't do “Heroes.” Only he knows. Okay, two more so you don’t miss your return flight. Best moment of the week, besides Ace?

Claire: On Saturday, Team Leonard and Team Woods were followed by some classmates who cheered everything on. Charlie's putts, Luke Leonard's shots, even Sam carrying his bag. It was great to see their support system come into play and it was fun to watch for everyone involved.

gap: For me, I'd go with Jason Langer, who just stuck a dagger into the 18th green repeatedly, and also vote for Padraig Harrington's son to play Score a hole-in-one. The Grand Slam champion said he had never felt so excited in his life, and it sounded very genuine. Weirdest/weirdest moment?

Claire: Probably Tiger signing the candy cane. I noticed the guy on Friday was dressed as a candy cane, but I didn't think much of it. Tiger thought it was funny. It's fun to see his sense of humor and he's excited to sign someone who's willing to do something a little outside the box.

gap: Can't beat that. That's it! Have a Merry Christmas!

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