Stewart and Reagan Cink stole some of the thunder from the other big names in the first round of the 24th PNC Championship.
Team Cink carded bogey-free score of 13-under-par 59 in the two-man scramble format to take a one-stroke lead over John Daly and his son John II, and defending champions Justin Thomas and his father Mike at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.
“There’s a little bit lower stakes, I guess, because of money and all that,” said Reagan Cink, who caddies for his father on the PGA Tour. “But being able to really contribute and hit shots, it’s so much fun, and I was so much more nervous today than I have been in any tournament I’ve caddied in, not even close.”
Stewart Cink, who won this tournament with his son Connor in 2013, holed a 30-foot eagle putt at No. 7 and the Cinks collected seven of their 11 birdies in a row through No. 15 and added one more for good measure on the last hole.’
Team Daly closed off its 60 with a six-foot eagle putt at No. 18 by John II, a freshman at Arkansas, while Team Thomas birdied six holes in a row through No. 8 and then four of the last six.
Vijay Singh of Fiji and his son Qass had an eagle at No. 3 and birdied the last six holes to wind up fourth at 61; while Tiger Woods and his 12-year-old son Charlie made seven birdies on the back nine in a 62 and are tied for fifth with 85-year-old Gary Player of South Africa and his grandson Jordan; Nick Faldo of England and his son Matthew; Tom Lehman and his son Sean; Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron, and Henrik Stenson of Sweden and his 11-year-old son Karl, the youngest player in the field.
Woods was playing in a tournament for the first time in a year after sustaining serious injuries in an automobile accident last February.
“It was an awesome day,” said Tiger, who finished seventh in this event with Charlie last year. “It was just awesome to be back out here playing, to be out here with my son. We had an absolute blast. “It’s nice having a partner who can hit drives like he did and make a few putts.
“I’m tired. I’m not in golf shape. It’s just like anything, if you don’t have the endurance, you start slowing down.”
Mark O’Meara and his son Sean shot 63 and are tied for 11th with Bubba Watson and his father-in-law Wayne Ball, and Nelly Korda, the only woman in the field, and her father former tennis champion Petr, while 81-year-old Lee Trevino and his son Daniel are 14th at 64.
Rich Beem and his son Michael carded a 65 and are tied for 15th with Nick Price of Zimbabwe and his son Greg; 72-year-old Tom Watson and his son Michael; Jim Furyk and his son Tanner; and David Duval (who won this event with his stepson Nick Karavites in 2016) and his son Brady, while Padraig Harrington and his son Paddy are 20th at 67.
The field is limited to major champions and their family members.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
