Tiger Woods, second from left, and his son Charlie, right, will play with Justin Thomas, second from right, and his father Mike Thomas the PNC Championship (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)
Justin Thomas is excited to have a front-row seat for Tiger Woods’ return to golf.
Woods is set to play this weekend at the PNC Championship, 10 months on from a life-threatening car accident that left him needing surgery on multiple leg injuries.
The 45-year-old is partnering his 12-year-old son Charlie at the event in which major winners team up with a family member for a 36-hole scramble event in Orlando.
Happy Charlie.Proud Tiger.@TigerWoods watched his son Charlie make the first eagle of his life at last year's PNC Championship.#TOURVault pic.twitter.com/rVPuIOaRZ8
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 15, 2021
And the Woods team has been paired with Thomas and his dad Mike in Saturday’s opening round, with their tee-time at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club set for 12.18pm local time (5.18pm GMT).
Thomas, ranked sixth in the world, told the PGA Tour’s website: “My excitement level is high just for him being out here and being somewhere other than his house, and getting to see a lot of familiar faces.
“And I know spending time with Charlie is a huge deal to him. I know he’s excited for that part.
Sounds like Tiger. pic.twitter.com/8Ly3KMWKQO
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 16, 2021
“In terms of the competing, I think his expectations are very low. But at the same time, he is who he is for a reason, so I’m sure he’ll be p***** off if he didn’t play well.”
Thomas’ dad Mike recently practiced with Woods and was impressed with what he saw.
He said in a quote posted on the PGA Tour’s Twitter feed: “It’s crazy how good he’s hitting it and (how) far he’s hitting it, for what he’s been through.”
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