2023 PNC Championship leaderboard: Bernhard Langer wins fifth time, third with son Jason, to tie event record

Tiger and Charlie Woods also netted their fourth straight top-10 finish in this event

The ageless one, Bernhard Langer, and his son, Jason, were triumphant at the 2023 PNC Championship thanks to a stellar Sunday performance. Carding rounds of 60-59, Team Langer overcame a three-stroke deficit the final day to leapfrog Team Kuchar and claim the duo's third title together at 25 under. With the win, Bernhard claims his fifth PNC Championship trophy, tying him with Raymond Floyd for the most all time.

"It's an amazing event, I always call it the fifth major," said Bernhard. "It truly is the best event there is outside some of the major tournaments that we play in just because it is all about family. To have the opportunity to play with your son or daughter and show them the ropes in this thing we do day after day is just amazing. Most people can't do that and to do that with other legends, other greats of the game and be paired with the many wonderful teams here and meet their families and grandkids it is incredible."

A member of the final grouping alongside Team Kuchar, Team Langer erased the first-round deficit set by their counterparts almost immediately. The Kuchars were slow out the gate and opened the door for the rest of the field to catch up. While many would, including Team Duval who once touched the lead, it was Team Langer who stepped through the door and raced away from the competition.

Three straight birdies to begin the round saw the Langers pull even with the Kuchars. That was just the start of their tear. Birdies came on their first seven holes and 10 out of the first 11 thanks to a red-hot run on the greens. A ho-hum finish that included three birdies across the final seven holes was enough for the Langers to cruise to a two-stroke victory over Team Duval.

"I was just enjoying watching my son hole putt after putt and hitting great shot after great shot," said Langer. "It was like a dream. It was incredible. I have seen a lot of great golf in my life and watching him today was unbelievable."

Tiger, Charlie ride final-round 61 to fourth straight top 10

Tiger and Charlie Woods did not win the PNC Championship, but that doesn't mean it was not a success. After opening with a middling 8-under 64, Team Woods improved on its score on Sunday with a stellar 11-under 61 at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in blustery conditions. The two finished the 36-hole scramble at 19 under and in a share of fifth for their fourth straight top 10 in this event.

"I think the whole week, to be able to share it with my family [was my favorite part of the week]. To have both my kids out there the last two days has been so special," said Tiger. "Just grateful for us to be able to have these types of experiences, for Charlie and I to have done this for four years in a row now since the start of COVID, to be able to come out here, and for all of us as families to come out and enjoy the week, it's special."

Beginning the day seven strokes off the pace of Team Kuchar, Team Woods woke up knowing the task of climbing the top of the leaderboard would be near impossible. They drew a comfortable pairing alongside Steve Stricker and his daughter, Izzi, the former with whom Tiger has played plenty of Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups. 

The laughs were abundant in the early going as a light drizzle fell and gusts ranging from 30 to 40 mph swirled around the golf course. Team Woods tacked on their first birdie on the par-5 3rd and grabbed a big bird on the 5th thanks to a nice approach and putt from the elder Woods.

Charlie drove the green on the par-4 7th to set up the third par breaker of the day before a par on the par-3 8th. On the difficult par-4 9th, Team Woods was greenside in two as Charlie stepped over his chip. Tracking and ultimately falling, Charlie's shot, and subsequent celebration, electrified the crowd and put a wide grin on his old man's face as images of a young Tiger flashed across the minds of golf fans everywhere.

"I was on the high side so I got a chance to see it and about 10 feet out it looked pretty damn good to me," said Tiger. "It went in, he got excited, I looked over at Stricks and he's just looking at me shaking his head. It was a great shot."

Tiger contributed from tee to green on the back side with a handful of nifty wedge shots. It began on the 10th with a saucy pitch from a low area to get the team to 6 under on the round. A pair of pars set the stage for a birdie run to the clubhouse highlighted by an unofficial bunker competition between Tiger and Charlie on the par-5 14th where the youngster reigned supreme.

Birdies on 15 and 16 got Team Woods to 10 under on the round and made the possibility of reaching 20 under for the tournament very real. It would not materialize, however, as the two went par-birdie to finish the week at 19 under.

"I look forward to getting ready for next year," said Woods. "These last two weeks have been good. I have been able to shake off a lot of rust. I've gotten better each and every day which is great, but I still have a lot of work to do."

Whenever Tiger takes to the golf course these days, it is hard not to analyze him in a competitive sense even in the laidback atmosphere of the PNC Championship. He looked quite similar to how he did at the Hero World Challenge a couple weeks ago with his gait steady again. Woods was strong off the tee utilizing a bleeding fade more times than not and possessed plenty of pop in his bat. His drives were used sparingly only because of Charlie's firepower from a tee box in front.

His wedge play took a step forward and set up ample birdie opportunities for the two, and his putting inside 10 feet improved from where it was in Albany. If there was an area where Woods still looked rusty, it would be his approach play, specifically his mid to long iron play.

Those clubs aren't used often during scrambles, but when they were Woods was not at his best. It will be an area for him to focus on over the next few months as it is likely this is the last we see of Tiger until the Genesis Invitational in February 2024.

[Dec 17, 2023 at 4:05 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Team Woods finishes at 19 under

It was a really solid final day from Tiger and Charlie as they improve by three and sign for an 11-under 61. They had it rolling in the middle portion of the back nine with four straight birdies at one point. A birdie on the finisher wrapped up a day that featured nine birdies and an eagle. They will finish inside the top 10 for the fourth straight year.

[Dec 17, 2023 at 3:28 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Four in a row

Tiger's wedge game is carry the load at the moment and has set up their fourth straight birdie. They have risen to T6 on the leaderboard at 18 under thanks to this four-birdie spurt. With two holes left, I am sure 20 under is the goal for Tiger and Charlie.

[Dec 17, 2023 at 3:12 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Anotha one!

That's three in a row for Team Woods. Charlie shows the line and Tiger knocks it in. He's been pretty solid on the greens today outside of one swipe in the early portion of the back nine. They've got three holes to go as they aim to reach 20 under.