Time to hold your breath, put a hold on the Christmas shopping — Tiger Woods is in the “contemplation” mode.
After putting in practice sessions seemingly every day during his Hero World Challenge down there in the Bahamas last week, El Tigre is now giving serious consideration to playing in the upcoming PNC Championship with son Charlie.
“I can hit every club in the bag,” Woods said and that appeared to be the case as on Wednesday, he was hitting three-woods off the deck then later in the week, Woods was indeed, hitting drivers. “I can hit it (driver). It just doesn’t go very far,” Woods said. Making fun of his lack of length, he added: “I can hear it land.”
On Sunday after the final twosome went out, Tiger was once again on the back of the range, sporting his “Sunday red” Nike shirt and working his way up to hitting the aforementioned drivers.
The time period is 12 days until the first round of the PNC event (Dec. 18-19) at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. Tiger is going to make the decision this week, saying he will “test it and make a call.”
There are exactly 19 teams in the PNC field. They’re leaving a spot open for the Woods-Woods pairing.
The event is 36-holes and falls into the classification Tiger referred to last week in his presser as “hit and giggle.” Won’t be a giggling matter for NBC and The Golf Channel. If word comes from The Fortress Of Solitude (aka Tiger’s palatial mansion) in Jupiter this week, well, the ratings will be absolutely off the charts. Who doesn’t want to get a look at Tiger after a little more than nine short months since the car wreck that could have cost him his life, even a limb?
Fact is, you can bet Tiger’s blood got flowing a bit stronger last week when he was around the world’s best who showed up for his big cash giveaway down there at Albany Resort where Viktor Hovland walked away with a cool million bucks along with that nifty Tiger Trophy that the winner bags.
Last year Tiger and Charlie finished seventh in the field and Charlie had an absolute blast and Tiger had an even bigger blast watching Charlie have a blast.
Tiger said his swing speed is nowhere near where it needs to be to compete in a Tour event. But this is anything but that. Besides, if Charlie’s hitting it on the button from those up tees, Tiger won’t have to hit tee shots. Besides, you have to figure Charlie is a year older and most likely longer off the tee than he was a year ago.
So now we sit and wait while Tiger “tests it” most likely out on The Medalist range and he’ll probably jump in the golf cart with Charlie, play nine holes, maybe 18 holes at some point and see exactly how he feels.
No walking necessary, Tiger can have that cart in Orlando.
Omniscient Brandel Chamblee from The Golf Channel gave us this: “Not a doubt in my mind that Tiger is playing the PNC.”
Haven’t seen the odds set for Tiger and Charlie showing up in Orlando.
But if they do, let the Masters appearance speculation begin.
6 Comments
baxter cepeda
I agree with chamblee. The other fun prediction bet game is when tiger chooses to announce he is playing
pNC. I’m guessing not today Monday as his crazy tournament will get plenty of play today. Maybe Wednesday.
Tom Edrington
Dead giveaway was Tiger hitting balls virtually every day…..He just didn’t pull out 3-wood or driver, as per his usual warmup, he goes through the bag starting with some short wedge flops…..sooooo, it’s a matter of when Stiney picks up the phone to let the PNC folks that you know who and son will be in Orlando…
baxter cepeda
Woods off the deck is the most impressive part. I can hardly do that healthy.
Tom Edrington
As long as there’s some grass under it, I’m good with it….lol
baxter cepeda
BINGO!
Tom Edrington
They’re in!