'Joint Leader' Woods, Still Alive~

13-Under Par on Day One of PNC Championship with Son Charlie
Return to Field After 5 Months at Family Event Tournament
Langer and Singh Families Tied for Lead in Victory Race

The 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) showcased his enduring prowess.

Tiger Woods and his son are inspecting the green at the 5th hole on the first day of the PNC Championship. Orlando=AFP·Yonhap News

On the 21st (local time), Woods, along with his son Charlie, shot a combined 13-under-par 59 in the first round of the PNC Championship (total prize money $1,085,000), an event of the PGA Tour Champions held at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club (par 72) in Orlando, Florida. They shared the lead with defending champions Bernhard Langer (Germany) - Jason Langer, and Vijay Singh (Fiji) - Kas Singh father and son duo.

This tournament is a friendly competition where major championship winners team up with one family member, such as a parent or child, to compete over 36 holes in two days using the scramble format (each player hits a shot, then the better ball is selected for the next shot). Woods returned to the field for the first time in five months since the major tournament The Open in July. Woods, who has chronic back pain and multiple surgeries, underwent another surgery in September for nerve compression in the lumbar area and took an extended break.

The Woods duo swept up 13 birdies without any bogeys. They played steadily, making birdies on holes 1 through 3, reaching 6-under-par by the 9th hole. After another birdie on the 10th hole, they succeeded in a streak of five consecutive birdies from the 12th to the 16th hole, climbing up the leaderboard. Tiger Woods' daughter, Sam Woods, drew attention by serving as caddie for the second consecutive year. After the round, Woods smiled in an interview with the broadcaster, saying, "I'm really happy to be able to spend such good time with my family."

The 'Golf Empress' Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) competed with her son Will McGee and finished the first round tied for 7th place (10-under-par 62). World No.1 in women's golf, Nelly Korda (USA), teamed up with her father Petr Korda, the Australian Open tennis major champion, finishing tied for 9th place (9-under-par 63). John Daly and his son, as well as David Duval (both USA), also joined the group tied for 9th place.