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Tiger Woods will be ending the year on a high, as he has just revealed that he will be returning to competitive golf, ten months after nearly losing his right leg in a horrific car crash in Southern California back in February! The 45-year-old pro golfer took to social media on Wednesday, December 8th, to tell the world that he will be playing in the 2021 PNC Championship in Orlando on December 18th and December 19th, alongside his 12-year-old son, Charlie.
“Although it’s been a long and challenging year, I am very excited to close it out by competing in the @PNCchampionship with my son Charlie,” Woods’ Tweet began. “I’m playing as a Dad and couldn’t be more excited and proud.” And he isn’t the only one looking forward to the event, as Alastair Johnston, the executive chairman of the PNC Championship, said he couldn’t wait to welcome both Tiger and Charlie to the tournament. He said: “We have been liaising with Tiger and his team for some time and are delighted that he has now decided to make his return to competitive golf at the PNC Championship.”
It looks like playing with his son might turn into a Christmas tradition for the 15-time Major winner, as the pair also played together in The PNC Championship – a tournament where major champions play alongside a family member – in December 2020 too. That was the last time Woods played competitively, as he underwent back surgery in January, and then was hospitalized for almost a month following the car crash.
Fans were excited to spot Woods on the golf course in Florida back in October, which he attended to watch Charlie compete in a junior golf tournament. And although Woods will be playing in a tournament in just a few days, he recently mentioned that sadly, he still didn’t know when he would be able to play PGA Tour golf. "As far as playing at the Tour level, I don't know when that's going to happen," Woods said at the Hero World Challenge a few days ago.
"Now, I'll play a round here or there, a little hit and giggle, I can do something like that," he added. "To see some of my shots fall out of the sky a lot shorter than they used to is a little eye-opening, but at least I'm able to do it again. That's something that for a while there it didn't look like I was going to." Woods also said a similar thing in a tell-all interview with Golf Digest last month, telling the pub that he will most likely "pick and choose" where he plays, as it's unlikely that he will be able to return to full time golf ever again.
"I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day, never full time, ever again, but pick and choose, just like Mr. (Ben) Hogan did," he said. "Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that. You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that. And you play. I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on." Tiger and Charlie will face stiff competition in the PNC Championship from defending champions Justin Thomas (a forrmer World Number One) and his father Mike. Good luck to everyone!
