ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods, alongside his 15-year-old son Charlie, showcased an impressive performance by notching five consecutive birdies on the back nine during Saturday’s round of the PNC Championship. They finished with a remarkable score of 13-under 59 in the scramble format, allowing them to share the lead in this event, marking Woods’ return to competitive play after undergoing back surgery in September, his sixth surgery in the last decade.

Woods revealed that he strategically planned the surgery to ensure he would be fit in time to compete with Charlie for the fifth consecutive year. Interestingly, it is the first occurrence of the duo leading after the opening round, tied with the former champions Bernhard Langer and his son Jason, as well as Vijay Singh and son Qass.

Showing an array of sharp shots, Woods notably landed a wedge just inches from the hole on the short par-4 seventh. However, he remained modest about his performance, mentioning that there is still a level of rust to shake off. The main objective for him was to enjoy 36 holes on a brisk day at the Ritz-Carlton Club Orlando, spending quality time with his son, who is a sophomore at Benjamin School in North Palm Beach. Charlie’s sister, Sam, served as caddy for their father for the second consecutive year, while their mother, Elin, cheered in the audience — an event that emphasizes family bonding.

Woods highlighted the collaborative nature of their game, stating, “We’re trying to pull off each and every shot for each other, and to ham-and-egg. I think we did that great pretty much the entire day. We picked each other up, which was great. And Charlie made pretty much most of the putts today.” Additionally, playing alongside former British Open champion Justin Leonard and his son, Luke, who is on the same golf team as Charlie, added to their enjoyment.

Bernhard Langer furthered his impressive legacy on the PGA Tour Champions this year, securing victories for an 18th straight season. Alongside his son, they rattled off eight birdies in a nine-hole stretch, capped off by an eagle on the 14th hole. Vijay Singh and his son, last year’s champions, also made their presence felt, finishing the back nine with a score of 28.

Langer emphasized the competitive nature of the tournament, stating, “There’s so many teams in the hunt. It’s anybody’s game that is within three or four shots of the leaders, which is most of the field.” Other notable pairs, such as Padraig Harrington and son Paddy, as well as Tom Lehman and son Sean, finished just behind at 12-under 60. The Lehmans were positioned to take the lead on the 18th hole but faltered, taking four shots to finish, resulting in a bogey.

The Woods duo’s presence alone draws attention, and Langer appreciated their spotlight, saying, “It’s great for the tournament and happy for them. Should be fun for the crowd tomorrow to come out and watch everybody play.” Woods has been absent from competitive action since the British Open in July.

For Team Woods, focusing on the present is essential. The father understands the importance of not looking too far ahead, especially considering his record-tying 82 wins on the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, Charlie reflected on his summer experiences, which included qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur but not advancing to match play after rounds of 82-80. He also narrowly missed entrance in various qualifiers. Charlie emphasized his biggest lesson learned was about focusing on the game rather than the outcome, saying, “I was so focused on winning that it kind of crept into how am I going to win instead of how I’m going to play the shot.” His father listened intently and nodded, responding succinctly, “Learn.”

The PNC Championship is specially catered to players who have won a major tournament or The Players Championship, paired with family members. Noteworthy participants include Annika Sorenstam with her son and Nelly Korda playing alongside her father. Steve Stricker, a standout in senior majors, also took to the course with his daughter, Izzy, a freshman at Wisconsin. Korda made an impression with a remarkable fairway metal shot from the sand on the par-5 14th hole, helping set up an eagle as Team Korda trailed by four shots.