At this level, folks know that Charlie Woods and Tiger Woods could possibly be clones. Clearly, they’re not as a result of he has hints of his mom in his options, however the similarities are plentiful.
From the second the little cub hit the scene in 2020, he was Dad’s shadow. Their mannerisms are eerily equivalent. The best way they membership twirl, scratch their nostril, rejoice putts, and plenty of different issues make him seem like Tiger reincarnated.
On Sunday on the PNC Championship, there have been a number of moments when Charlie reminded everybody of the Large Cat. Nonetheless, his chip-in birdie on the par-4 ninth actually made him seem like his dad.
After the ball dropped into the outlet, Charlie gave a fist pump that mirrored his dad and yelled, “Come on!” It was laborious to inform who loved that second extra, Tiger or Charlie. The 15-time main champion couldn’t do something however smile with satisfaction.
“It was neat as a result of I used to be saying earlier to Cara [Banks] I used to be on the excessive facet, so I bought an opportunity to see it from about 10, 12 ft out, and it appeared nice from the place I used to be,” Woods mentioned. “To see his response — it occurred proper in entrance of me… He bought excited, and I appeared over at Stricks, and he was shaking his head. It was nice.”
That chip-in was one in all many situations from the week the place Charlie impressed. He drove the inexperienced on a par-4 throughout Saturday’s spherical. The 14-year-old did it once more on Sunday as he drove one other par-4 inexperienced to set them up for a birdie.
His recoil on his tee swings seems to be like dad, too — one other familiarity between the 2.
The child already has spectacular swing speeds, however Charlie remains to be younger. Woods talked about all of the adjustments along with his son earlier than the occasion.
“I feel his pace has gone dramatically up since final 12 months. However I feel that greater than something, it’s simply that he’s grown so quick,” Woods mentioned.
Lots has modified between final 12 months’s PNC Championship and this 12 months’s for him. He’s in a transitional interval of his recreation, and it exhibits.
“You possibly can see how a lot he’s grown from final 12 months. It’s superb how a lot he has grown, has modified, and it’s a shifting goal with him,” Tiger mentioned earlier than the match. “He’s grown someplace close to 4 inches this 12 months, so his swing has modified, it’s advanced, golf equipment have advanced. We saved making an attempt to regulate issues, and it’s been a variety of enjoyable. It’s additionally difficult for him as a result of, each couple weeks, issues change.”
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Picture by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photographs
It’s laborious to maintain the expectations in examine due to these moments of greatness. Individuals wish to see one other Tiger Woods; who wouldn’t? Nonetheless, he’s 14, so who is aware of what may occur with Charlie and golf.
Might he do nice issues like his dad? Presumably.
He has already achieved one thing his dad didn’t as an newbie— profitable a highschool state golf championship. Whereas the Large Cat has loads of different accomplishments, it’s nonetheless one thing Charlie has on him.
The little cub has the potential, however hopefully, he’ll get to do issues the best way he needs.
Tiger appears to grasp that, however in immediately’s society of social media, it needs to be difficult to maintain him out of the limelight and humble. Hopefully, he can proceed evolving his recreation and rising up with out an excessive amount of strain.
Staff Woods didn’t win, nevertheless it was a robust end for the duo. They fired off a 61 within the scramble format on Sunday to complete tied for fifth place at 19-under.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. For extra golf protection, be sure you observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may as well observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
