Tiger and Charlie Woods have more family backup at the PNC Championship.
Tiger’s 16-year-old daughter, Samantha, is caddying for them at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported.
It is not the first time Samantha has impacted Tiger’s golf career.
She gave an an emotional speech at Woods’ 2021 Hall of Fame induction, in which she referenced the golfer’s terrifying car crash.
“We didn’t know if you’d come home with two legs or not,” she said. “Now not only are you about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but you’re standing here on your own two feet. This is why you deserve this, because you’re a fighter.”
It is the fourth straight year that Tiger and Charlie, 14, have played in the tournament, an annual scramble in which golfers compete alongside a family member.
Tiger is on the comeback trail, having undergone ankle surgery in April, and passed the physical test of being able to walk all 18 holes on Friday.
“I felt like I was physically fit to do it, and also, walking is always better for my back,” Woods said in a Q&A Friday. “I just wanted to keep it loose and keep it going, and we’re just having so much fun, it doesn’t really matter. We had a good time doing it.”
Tiger said he is having a great time at the event.
“It’s a blast for us to be back out here, playing and competing and just enjoying this atmosphere,” he said. “It’s been a blast, and hopefully we get through the next day or so without any delays, and hopefully we’re able to post something good.”
Tiger also spoke to NBC before the event about how he and Charlie have been feeding off each others’ competitive juices.
“We’ve fed off of our competitive nature and we’ve really pushed each other to become better, and it’s just a fun atmosphere,” Tiger said. “We keep it light, competitive, enjoyable.”
In 2021, Tiger and Charlie fell just short of John Daly and John Daly II in winning the tournament, but nonetheless managed to set a course record with 11 straight birdies, a remarkable feat given that Tiger was less than a year removed from a debilitating single-car accident in which his leg was shattered.