Tiger Woods has shielded young son Charlie from doing press interviews at the PNC Championship – as he should. But 12-year-old Will McGee, the son of Mike McGee and Annika Sorenstam, got the Charlie exclusive at the turn. It was the children of the two goats of the men’s and women’s game chatting it out.
I’m told it was Will’s idea. Tiger stood and watched and playfully tossed a piece of a chicken finger at Charlie.
Will gripped a microphone for PGA Tour Radio’s Sirius/XM Network and asked Charlie three questions – at least two more than most media members get with his dad. The best of them?
Will asked, “My mom was wondering, because she gives me advice on my swing but I don’t listen often. … Do you listen to your dad on swing tips?”
“It doesn’t happen very often,” Charlie answered. “I mean, when I get desperate, yeah.”
Will: “Yeah, I understand.”
Charlie Woods is at the center of attention
The spotlight is on Charlie every December to see whether he’s going to follow in his father’s footsteps. Charlie shot a career-low round of 66 to win his age group at a regional qualifier for the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship. He went on to finish T-17.
Charlie and his high school team, Benjamin High School, won the FHSAA Class A State Championship. Charlie shot 78-76 the last two rounds. It’s good to remember that he’s only the fifth-best player on his high school team, but Charlie, who has filled out since last year, has some game. As a result, Charlie moved back a tee this year and is just one tee ahead of Tiger now.
At the first hole, he pumped a drive right down the middle, wedged to 10 feet and walked in the birdie putt. It was a birdie on his own ball.
“Dad’s not helping a lot,” Charlie said as he walked to the next tee.
How is Tiger Woods feeling?
This is the $64,000 question. Is Tiger going to be healthy enough to play once a month next season and make another run at a major – it would be sweet 16 – and win No. 83 to break a tie on the all-time career victory list with Sam Snead?
Carson Daly, the TV host and radio personality, played in the pro-am with his son and popped up at the practice area Friday morning and greeted Tiger with a bro-hug. Daly and Woods played junior golf growing up in Southern California.
“How do you feel, bro?” Daly asked.
“I’m good, dude,” Tiger said.
With a big backup at the turn, Mike Thomas, father of Justin, came over to chat with Tiger, and asked the question of the day: “How are you feeling?”
“Cute,” Tiger said breaking into a smile.
“I was not expecting that,” Mike said.
When ESPN’s Michael Collins told Tiger, “You’re looking good,” Woods cracked, “I always look good. You don’t have to tell me.”
It’s hard to put too much into a pro-am let alone one at a two-person team scramble, but Tiger opted not to use a cart, which he is allowed to do at an event that is under the auspices of PGA Tour Champions. To see Tiger choose to walk, even at a flat Florida course, is an encouraging sign for those hoping to see him at Augusta National in April.