Monday, December 18th, 2023 Edition
Team Langer Win PNC Championship As Tiger And Charlie Woods Finish T5th – by Roderick Easdale / Golf Monthly
Per Roderick: “Bernhard Langer has equalled Raymond Floyd’s record of five PNC Championship victories.
On a tricky day due to the gusting, swirling wind, his son Jason Langer putted like a dream as Team Langer went out in 28. They slowed a little on the back nine, but still went round in 59, enough for a two-shot victory over runners up David and Brady Duval…”
B&B POV: Tiger and Charlie didn’t win. And neither did Annika and her son Will. But boy was it fun to watch those two GOATs play with their young gun kids in the PNC Championship this weekend. Charlie, age 14, and Will, age 12, are magnificent players in the own rights; but let’s not kid ourselves, their playing partners brought a few years and a boat load of Big-A Major Trophies-worth of experience to the course in their pursuit of winning the 2023 iteration of the long-running Father-Son (and in the case of Annika, Mama GOAT-Son) PGA Tour-aligned event. Sixty-six-year-old whipper snapper Berhard Langer and his “adult” son Jason won on Sunday after firing a final round two-person scramble score of 59 (13-under). This was Jason’s 3rd win with his world golf hall-of-fame father; and, Bernhard now can stake claim to tying Raymond Floyd for most PNC Championship victories with five. You see, Bernhard was nice enough to win two previous events with Jason’s brother, Stefan. The Langer family is pretty good at golf.
Yo Nick…What Us Naughties Want from the PGA TOUR in 2024! – by Bo Wood | Chris Lohman / Balls & Bogeys
Per Bo & Chris: For crazed sports fans, in most cases, the season for their favorite team usually ends abruptly – most likely without a title to celebrate or a Big-A Trophy to lift; at best the players on their favorite team will pick up an extra playoff check or two (wouldn’t that be nice!).
But especially in golf, the diehard fans of particular players rely on magical moments (Rickie!) to be able to truly rejoice, with tears and beers or whatever the heck they drink when yelping and snorting. The way we celebrate those magical moments and back-nine heaters shows how unique our favorite game is. There are far more losses than wins, which makes all the accomplishments in-between so worthwhile…
Tiger Woods still believes he can win on PGA Tour – by BBC Sport
Per BBC Sport: “Tiger Woods believes he can still win on the PGA Tour but will only play one event per month in 2024 as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery.
The 15-time major champion has had a limited schedule since suffering a leg injury in a car crash in 2021…”
B&B POV: Ever wonder what ‘sweet, sweet music’ sounds like? Or the loving whisper a young mother says to her newborn that elicits joy and comfort? What Taylor says with a twinkle in her eye to Travis after an 8-catch, 100+ yard day, come-from-behind victory? True bliss is what that sounds like…
Well, we heard some true bliss this weekend during a BBC interview with the GOAT: “If I’m able to practice and do the things I know I can do, and prepare, I know I can still do it,” Woods said.
Bliss sounds like this too: “We’ve been working out hard, been able to recover. We’ve been training every day, which is great.”
Let’s go Tiger. Let’s play in every Major in ’24. Let’s contend. Spread the joy. The belief. The excitement that is watching you slightly limp down 18 in contention wearing red, probably not in Nike, but who really cares? Let’s do this. Woot!
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How good is Charlie Woods? Putting his young junior golf career into perspective – by Jay Coffin / Golf Digest
Per Jay: “Charlie Woods burst onto the national golf stage three years ago when, at age 11, he joined his father Tiger in playing the PNC Championship. This marks the fourth consecutive time Team Woods has competed at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club to end the year…”
B&B POV: Jordan’s kids’ skills couldn’t live up to the name. Nicklaus’s five kids could all play, but we’re guessing didn’t even sniff beating their ol’ man straight up until he was well into his late 50’s. And what odds would you put on any kid with the last name of Messi, Williams, James, Federer, Brady, or Griffey to one day slip on a gaudy world championship ring or lift a Big-A Major Trophy? Tough goings.
What about Charlie Woods? Are there Major championships in his future? For only 14, his swing looks solid, mostly. He rips it 300+ yards off the tee and has a pretty darn good short game. He oozes confidence while playing in front of fans, cameras, the ladies, and college coaches. So does he have what it takes to follow in his dad’s footsteps?
This article does a good job of breaking down how good Charlie plays and his ranking against his peers in HS and junior golf – how he ranks against the best young players in his home state.
The stats show that he’s good, but not a world-beater. He’s got some work to do to make–and travel–on a good college golf team (Hallowed Stanford is where his dad broke records). He has time.
And honestly, stats are for losers. (One of our favorite Chris Peterson quotes.)
Charlie has moxy. He has a world-class short-game practice facility in his backyard. He can get a tee-time on any course in the world. His dad is a billionaire!
We sure as hell aren’t betting against him. Because his dad is the GOAT. And Charlie looooooooves golf and the pressure. It will be fun to see how his career plays out.
Kevin Kisner to serve as NBC Sports analyst for two early events in 2024 PGA Tour season – by Adam Woodard / Golfweek
Per Adam: “Kevin Kisner is putting down the club and picking up the mic…”
B&B POV: We love us some Kiz. The execs at NBC must too, since he’s been hired to be the lead TV analyst for two early season PGA TOUR events coming up around the corner – The Sentry Tournament of Champions which will be played Jan. 4-7 at Kapalua, Maui. And at the Waste Management, Feb. 8-11.
Kiz hasn’t announced which early season PGA Tour events he intends to play in. His recent run of form has been shaky to say the least. If he does end up leaving his clubs in the bag for a bit, at least we get to watch him on TV and hear his inside-the-tour takes on his peers, the courses, LIV, etc. Good luck to him with his new gig.
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