Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods, gets hole-in-one at PNC Championship

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods’ son hit the shot of his life for his first hole-in-one, but it was Bernhard Langer who hit the shot that meant Sunday — an 18-foot eagle putt in a playoff to beat Woods and son Charlie in a terrific duel at the PNC Championship.

Langer and 24-year-old son Jason won for the second consecutive year, and the 67-year-old German has now won back-to-back at the PNC Championship with two sons as his partners.

They put on quite a show at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, especially when 15-year-old Charlie hit a 7-iron on the par-3 fourth hole for his first ace, getting a huge hug from his dad and a reminder to buy a round of drinks for everyone.

“I’m devastated,” Charlie replied.

Even in defeat, Charlie said the hole-in-one, the big closing round, the playoff, everything, was the most fun he’s had on the golf course.

“It’s not even close,” Charlie said.

His father agreed.

“It was the thrill of a lifetime to be able to have that moment with Charlie, making his first hole-in-one, (daughter) Sam on the bag, just our family and friends,” Tiger Woods said. “That’s what this event is all about. It’s about bonding and family.

“I know we didn’t win, but it was the fact that we competed. Nobody really made a mistake out there. We had to earn it and that’s what you want. Hats off to Langers. They played great.”

Padraig Harrington’s son Paddy, 21, also made his first career ace at the 214-yard, par-3 eighth short of Charlie’s, sparking another celebration.

Team Langer and Team Woods each finished with 15-under 57 in the scramble format, where each team made just four pars, and they set the tournament record at 28-under 116.

Woods, playing for the first time since a sixth lower back surgery in September, moved well and delivered key shots. He hit driver off the deck on the par-5 14th.

Langer followed by hitting the driver out of a bunker on that hole and nearly finding the green, landing in a greenside bunker.

“One of the best shots I’ve ever seen,” Woods said of Langer, who turned pro three years before Woods was born.

In the playoff, Langer had the advantage on the par 5s due to his age. He played the third set of tees, 82 yards ahead of where Woods would play and 52 yards ahead of where the two sons hit.

Charlie reached just in front of the green. His 25-foot eagle putt hit the edge of the hole but had too much pace. Woods missed low. Jason Langer hit his approach to 18 feet and he left it up to his ageless father to win.

For Woods, it was his first time in a playoff since Zach Johnson beat him at Sherwood in the 2013 World Challenge.

On a chilly afternoon, every seat was filled in the bleachers behind the 18th green, with fans in jackets packed down the side of the fairway. It was entertaining, along with a rare chance to see Woods on the golf course. He played for the first time since surgery on his lower back in September. His last competition was the British Open in July.

Charlie was getting ready for a big fist pump when his playoff eagle putt approached the hole. Langer threw both arms in the air as his winning putt dropped.

It capped off another stellar year for Langer, a two-time Masters champion. He tore his Achilles tendon playing pickleball at the start of the year, recovered in four months and extended his 50-and-older PGA Tour Champions streak by winning for the 18th consecutive season.

And now he has six PNC Championship titles – four with Jason, two with Stefan, who caddied for his younger brother.

No one else was closer than five shots, with Team Harrington among those tied for third.

“I was too excited. You couldn’t have talked to me,” Harrington said of watching his son make a hole-in-one. “I was gone. This is a great event and it’s all great. And we’re trying to play well, but it was pure joy.”

The tournament is for winners of a major on any tour or The Players Championship and a family member.