Tiger Woods ‘physically fit’ to walk 18 holes at PNC pro-am

Tiger Woods walked 18 holes for the PNC Championship’s pro-am Friday, a promising sign that his health and fitness are turning a corner.

Woods and 14-year-old son Charlie Woods will play together this weekend in the PNC Championship, a scramble tournament that features elite golfers teaming up with a family member.

Because it’s sanctioned by the PGA Tour Champions, Woods could use a golf cart if he wants to do so, whereas players competing in PGA Tour events must walk. But Woods, who is recovering from ankle surgery in April, decided to walk it on Friday.

“I felt like I was physically fit to do it, and also, walking is always better for my back,” Woods told a tour official in a Q&A. “I just wanted to keep it loose and keep it going, and we’re just having so much fun, it doesn’t really matter. We had a good time doing it.”

Woods declined a pre-tournament news conference, according to reporters on site in Orlando, Fla., but he spoke with a tour official about his son and his own status as the 2024 season approaches.

Woods, who turns 48 on December 30, said at the Hero World Challenge two weeks ago that playing one tournament per month in 2024 is a “reasonable” goal for himself.

Woods said Friday he had knocked some rust off at the Hero, where he shot even par for 72 holes, and was happier with his shot control at the pro-am.

“Especially today with the wind blowing as hard as it was, I was able to hit flighted shots nicely, which was not quite on par or as sharp as I was, as I wanted to be at Hero,” Woods said.

This will be the fourth time Tiger and Charlie Woods compete together at the PNC Championship. Woods said having to rehab his ankle throughout the year gave him more time to spend with his son. Tiger caddied for Charlie last month at the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship.

“It’s a blast for us to be back out here, playing and competing and just enjoying this atmosphere,” the elder Woods said.

“It’s been a blast, and hopefully we get through the next day or so without any delays, and hopefully we’re able to post something good.”