• Charlie Woods tees off while being watched by father Tiger Woods on the first tee during the first round of the PNC Championship golf tournament Saturday, December 18, 2021, in Orlando. AP
    Charlie Woods tees off while being watched by father Tiger Woods on the first tee during the first round of the PNC Championship golf tournament Saturday, December 18, 2021, in Orlando. AP
  • Charlie Woods plays a shot on the ninth hole as Tiger Woods looks on. AFP
    Charlie Woods plays a shot on the ninth hole as Tiger Woods looks on. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and son Charlie Woods wait to play their shot on the 18th fairway. USA Today
    Tiger Woods and son Charlie Woods wait to play their shot on the 18th fairway. USA Today
  • Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods walk off the 14th hole. AFP
    Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods walk off the 14th hole. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and Charlie celebrate a birdie on the 15th hole. AFP
    Tiger Woods and Charlie celebrate a birdie on the 15th hole. AFP
  • Charlie Woods hits a shot on the 16th hole. AFP
    Charlie Woods hits a shot on the 16th hole. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and Charlie wait to play on the 17th hole. AFP
    Tiger Woods and Charlie wait to play on the 17th hole. AFP
  • Charlie Woods plays a shot on the second hole as Tiger Woods looks on. AFP
    Charlie Woods plays a shot on the second hole as Tiger Woods looks on. AFP
  • Tiger and Charlie Woods line up a putt during the first round. Reuters
    Tiger and Charlie Woods line up a putt during the first round. Reuters
  • Stewart Cink and Reagan Cink look over a shot on the 18th hole. AFP
    Stewart Cink and Reagan Cink look over a shot on the 18th hole. AFP
  • Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas wait on the 18th hole. AFP
    Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas wait on the 18th hole. AFP
  • Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods enjoying the first round. Reuters
    Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods enjoying the first round. Reuters

Tiger Woods produces flashes of brilliance on return to competition - in pictures


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Tiger Woods is in the mix for a trophy again after a strong showing with his son Charlie during the first round of the PNC Championship, combining for a 10-under 62 on Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.

The duo are tied for fifth after a round that the 15-time Grand Slam champion called "awesome" with Woods playing for the first time since badly breaking his right leg 10 months ago in a car accident.

Competing again also demonstrated to Woods that there is a long way to go before he can consider about playing PGA Tour events - though he was very satisfied with the occasional flash of brilliance as he travelled the course in a cart.

“Two good shots - three - came off exactly how I wanted,” Woods said. “We had so much fun out there.

"But I don't have endurance. I haven't played. It's tiring out there, so it was a slow day.

"But that's something that I'm going to have to - if I want to compete out here at the tour level - I'm going to have to get the endurance back and hit thousands upon thousands of golf balls. Just takes time."

Stuart Cink and his son Reagan are in the lead at 13-under 59. John Daly and his son John II and defending champions Justin Thomas and his father Mike are tied for second at 12 under while Vijay Singh and his son Qass are fourth at 11 under.

Tiger Woods' car crash - in pictures

  • Tiger Woods pictured with his dog, Bugs. Instagram/ @tigerwoods
    Tiger Woods pictured with his dog, Bugs. Instagram/ @tigerwoods
  • Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies inspect the vehicle of golfer Tiger Woods. Reuters
    Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies inspect the vehicle of golfer Tiger Woods. Reuters
  • A worker moves debris after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods. AP Photo
    A worker moves debris after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods. AP Photo
  • The damaged car of Tiger Woods is towed away. Reuters
    The damaged car of Tiger Woods is towed away. Reuters
  • The vehicle rests on its side after the rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods. AP Photo
    The vehicle rests on its side after the rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods. AP Photo
  • Los Angeles County Sheriff Alejandro Villanueva speaks during a press conference in front of Sheriff Department building in Lomita, California. AP Photo
    Los Angeles County Sheriff Alejandro Villanueva speaks during a press conference in front of Sheriff Department building in Lomita, California. AP Photo
  • A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods. AP Photo
    A vehicle rests on its side after a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods. AP Photo
  • People film and take photos following the car crash of Tiger Woods. Reuters
    People film and take photos following the car crash of Tiger Woods. Reuters
  • The Riviera Country Club, where Tiger Woods participated in the Genesis Invitational a few days before his accident. AFP
    The Riviera Country Club, where Tiger Woods participated in the Genesis Invitational a few days before his accident. AFP
  • A sign for the Genesis Invitational golf tournament is seen on the door of the car that golf legend Tiger Woods was driving. AFP
    A sign for the Genesis Invitational golf tournament is seen on the door of the car that golf legend Tiger Woods was driving. AFP
  • A Los Angeles County Sheriff deputy picks up a damaged sign that reads "Welcome to Rolling Hills Estates" from the scene of an accident. AFP
    A Los Angeles County Sheriff deputy picks up a damaged sign that reads "Welcome to Rolling Hills Estates" from the scene of an accident. AFP
  • A fan holding flowers stands in front of the main entrance of the Harbor UCLA Medical Centre in Torrance, California on February 23, 2021, where the US Golf star Tiger Woods is hospitalised. AFP
    A fan holding flowers stands in front of the main entrance of the Harbor UCLA Medical Centre in Torrance, California on February 23, 2021, where the US Golf star Tiger Woods is hospitalised. AFP

Team Woods had 10 birdies during a bogey-free round using the scramble format. Charlie, age 12, certainly did his part in the strong showing.

"He loves competing," Tiger said of Charlie. "Our whole family loves to compete at everything we do. This is an arena in which he feels comfortable in and so do I."

The Thomas family played with Woods and Justin said he was amazed over what he witnessed, particularly when Woods hit a shot from 220 yards out on the par-5 third hole and left it eight feet from the hole.

"That was just ridiculous," Justin Thomas said. "I looked at him and as soon as he sat in the cart, he just kind of looked at me and smiled. And I knew exactly that's the kind of shots that he hits when he's healthy."

The Cinks had 11 birdies and an eagle on the par-5, No. 5 in the day's best showing.

Updated: December 19, 2021, 6:59 AM