by 
Tiger Woods and his 15-year-old son Charlie combined for a 13-under par 59 to share the lead after Saturday’s first round of the PNC Championship parent-child golf event.
Charlie Woods birdied the par-5 18th hole, the 13th birdie of the day for Team Woods in the 36-hole match between 20 pairs at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.
“We got back up, which was great, and Charlie made most of the putts,” Tiger Woods said.
Fiji’s Vijay Singh and his son Qass shared the lead at the halfway point, along with Germany’s Bernhard Langer and his son Jason, who each had 11 birdies and an eagle on the day.
In a quiet return to competition after back surgery in September that included golf carts and a family atmosphere, the elder Woods had his daughter Sam as his caddy.
“I’m just trying to have fun here,” said Woods, a 15-time major champion. “I’m very rusty and it’s a hustle, so we’re just trying to have fun out there. Ham and egg each other.
“I think we did that wonderfully all day.”
Woods, who turns 49 on Dec. 30, said he has “a long way to go” before he is ready to play in a PGA Tour event after back surgery and ongoing leg problems due to a car accident in 2021.
Woods hit well from the start, saying, “It was OK,” and Charlie noting, “You’re following me.”
“They’re big fairways and I can let it go a little bit every now and then,” Tiger Woods added.
Team Woods is making its fifth attempt at the title, having already managed a second-place finish.
“Here we are,” Tiger Woods said. “We’re going to have to have another good round tomorrow. And you know, make a bunch of birdies. Hopefully we can do that and get a good start and then build on it in the back nine.”
Asked if his competitiveness might come into play in a close nine-man fight on Sunday, Tiger Woods replied: “It’s still there.”
js/bb
