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'Blown away': Golf world in frenzy over 'amazing' Tiger Woods return

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Tiger Woods, pictured here alongside son Charlie at the PNC Championship.
Tiger Woods returned to competitive golf alongside son Charlie at the PNC Championship. Image: Getty/PGA

Tiger Woods made his return to competitive golf on Saturday for the first time since a devastating car accident 10 months ago.

Woods looked solid but not entirely pain free as he teamed up with his 12-year-old son Charlie to shoot a bogey-free 62 at the PNC Championship.

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In his first round since a serious car crash in February shattered his leg, Woods received a huge ovation from spectators as he nailed his tee shot on the par-four first hole at the non-PGA Tour event in Orlando.

Tiger and Charlie wore matching peach-coloured shirts and black trousers playing alongside Justin Thomas and his dad Mike at the tournament - which features 19 father-son pairs and the father-daughter team of Nelly Korda and her dad - former Australian Open tennis champion Petr.

Team Woods were in a six-way tie for fifth place, three strokes behind leaders Team Cink going into Sunday's second and final round.

"It was awesome," a smiling Woods said after the round, where he and Charlie had 10 birdies.

"It was a boatload of fun for all of us. Charlie and I had a great day playing with the Thomas family.

"It just couldn't get any better than that."

World No.6 Thomas said he was "blown away" by Tiger's game.

"Some of the shots he was hitting and the speed that he had was just awesome," he said.

Tiger and Charlie Woods, pictured here walking down the first fairway at the PNC Championship.
Tiger and Charlie Woods walk down the first fairway at the PNC Championship. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tiger Woods' return after serious car accident

The tournament marks Team Woods's second time playing in the competition, having finished seventh last year.

Woods said he is a long way from being able to compete in a PGA Tour event after the one-car accident near Los Angeles nearly led to his leg being amputated.

He used a cart to get around the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and appeared to have a slight limp when walking.

He grimaced in apparent discomfort after hitting a tee shot on the par-four 16th.

"Oh yeah, I'm tired," Woods said.

"Even though I had the chance to ride the cart, I'm not in golf shape.

Tiger Woods' car, pictured here after the devastating accident.
Tiger Woods nearly had his leg amputated after the awful crash. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag)

"Like anything, if you don't have to endure it you start slowing down.

"It's nice to have a partner who can hit drives like he did and make a few putts."

Defending champions Team Thomas and Team Daly were second after they carded rounds of 60, while Team Singh were a shot further back in fourth.

Woods, who endured four back surgeries and multiple knee operations in his career before undergoing a back fusion procedure in 2017, has not set a time frame to return to the PGA Tour but said last month he would love to play in the British Open next July.

The 45-year-old is tied with Sam Snead for the most wins on the PGA Tour with 82, and his 15 major championships puts him three shy of Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major titles.

with AAP

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