CNN
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Tiger Woods revealed that his 15-year-old son Charlie beat him in a round of golf for the first time – although he quickly clarified that it was over nine holes, not 18.

“Yeah, he beat me by nine holes,” Woods told reporters Friday, according to the PGA Tour. “He hasn’t beaten me over 18 holes yet. That day is coming; I’ll just extend it as long as possible.”

The father-son pair made their way through the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, on Friday in the Pro-Am ahead of this weekend’s annual PNC Championship, marking Woods’ public return to golf after retiring had successfully undergone back surgery in September.

“It was just fun to be out here playing again and looking forward to the weekend,” Woods said after his Friday round.

The 15-time major winner hasn’t played since the Open in July. He has made just 13 starts on the PGA Tour over the past four seasons and has completed a full four rounds just twice since sustaining a serious leg injury in a car accident in 2021.

On Friday, Woods described the challenges of putting together a string of good rounds and the toll it takes on his body.

“I have had many procedures over time. I won’t feel what I used to feel. And recovery will be more difficult. I can train for a day here or there, but as the rounds, weeks, months go by it becomes more and more difficult.”

Woods said his son Charlie has grown “3.5 to 4 inches tall” since last year and has become “stronger, faster and heavier.” So he’s hoping that Charlie will do all the driving and putting, while Tiger will just be a “backup” in the tournament.

This is the fifth time that Team Woods has participated in the two-day, 36-hole competition, which features 20 major champions and their family members.

Woods also shared the advice he gave his son Charlie for dealing with the pressure that comes with the Woods name.

“I just always remind him, ‘Just be yourself.’ Charlie is Charlie. Yes, he’s my son, he’ll have that last name as part of the sport, but I just want him to just be himself, you know, and be his own person. That’s what we’re always going to focus on and we’re always going to encourage him to just make his own name, make his own path and take his own journey.”

When asked how Charlie is handling the spotlight so far, Woods replied, “I think he’s doing a great job.”