Justin Thomas and his father Mike lead the PNC Championship family golf tournament after Saturday's first round, but all eyes were on Tiger and Charlie Woods who go into the second and final round in hot pursuit.
The Thomases, who won the light-hearted 36-hole scramble at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida, in 2020, were atop the leaderboard after combining for two eagles and 11 birdies in a 15-under par 57.
The Woods family, who finished runners-up last year, shared second on 13-under with former Masters champion Vijay Singh and his son, Qass Singh.
Since they made their debut in 2020, the spotlight has been on the Woods duo, with 15-time major champion Tiger nursing plantar fasciitis in his right foot and 13-year-old Charlie limping slightly on an "iffy" ankle.
Neither was deterred, and after a birdie at the second they caught fire with eight holes of birdie or better on the fourth through 11th. That included Tiger chipping in for eagle at the par-five fifth.
They added another pair of birdies at the 13th and 14th before Charlie rolled in a birdie putt at the last for their share of second.
"We had a blast slaying it today," Tiger Woods said. "All day we were after it, and we didn't get off to a great start but we made some birdies, an eagle and got rolling and really got into it, which was awesome.
"It was very similar to the feeling we had last year on Sunday," Woods added. "We just got rolling. I had a little bit of a chip-in and all of a sudden a couple putts fell, and we were just trying to give ourselves as many opportunities getting in the fairway, iron shots and putts, and we just got rolling."
Playing alongside good family friends Justin and Mike Thomas made for plenty of laughter and quite a bit of needling, with Woods acknowledging that their friendly rivalry made for extra motivation.
"Absolutely," he said. "They got the belt (awarded as trophy) a couple years ago. They rubbed it in our face over Christmas dinner.
"They are in a great position to possibly do it again on Christmas dinner, but we are going to have a little something to say about that."
Woods, who turns 47 on December 30, has played only nine competitive rounds this year as he recovered from severe leg injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash.
The plantar fasciitis that flared up in his right foot has complicated his preparations for 2023, and he said he still can't predict a schedule although he hopes to play all four majors.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
