2022 PNC Championship leaderboard: Tiger, Charlie Woods on the hunt as Team

Birdies were plentiful in the first round of the 2022 PNC Championship as teams shot out of the gates at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. Rising above the rest was a pair who has had their fair share of success in this event: 2020 champions Justin Thomas and his father, Mike. The two-time PGA Championship winner and 40-year PGA Professional were exquisite around the par 72 on Saturday signing for a 15-under 57 to hold a two-stroke lead over Team Singh and Team Woods at 13 under.

Playing in the two-person scramble format, Team Thomas was featured in the final pairing of the day alongside Tiger and Charlie Woods. The two close families battled back-and-forth for the majority of the day before an eagle from the putter of Justin on the par-5 14th propelled Team Thomas into a share of the lead with Team Singh, who was already in the clubhouse.

Additional birdies on two of their final four holes gave Team Thomas a meaningful edge heading into tomorrow’s final round. Carding 11 birdies, two eagles and only five pars, Justin and Mike are in prime position to capture their second PNC Championship title in the last three years.

The leader

1. Team Thomas (-15)

Justin has looked great the past month, finishing the Hero World Challenge on a high note and dominating in The Match 7. He continued this quality play on Saturday, and with some timely help from his father, the two were able to get to 15 under — good for the second-lowest round in tournament history. Hitting off-speed wedges, booming drives and precise putts, the two will be a difficult duo to chase down on Sunday.

“We are out here just to have fun and play golf,” said Thomas. “The course is obviously very right in front of you, big fairways, big greens and I really, really enjoy putting when I can see a putt before me and it helps me quite a bit. Poor dad is unfortunately the guinea pig on every single hole, but sometimes when I give him a good read, he knocks it in.”

Other contenders

T2. Team Singh, Team Woods (-13)

4. Team Langer (-12)

T5. Team Daly, Team Spieth, Team Cink, Team Leonard, Team O’Meara, Team Lehman (-11)

Team Woods came into the week on the minds of most, and showed guts and gumption on Saturday. With Tiger playing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot and Charlie dealing with a lingering left ankle injury, despite not feeling 100%, they remained within arm’s reach of Team Thomas. Nearly chasing down Team Daly in last year’s final round, and at one point carding 11 straight birdies that fateful day, something similar will have to be in store if they are to catch their good buddies with whom they will play alongside for the second straight day.

“This is what I see at home all the time, I’m used to it,” said Tiger of Charlie’s game. “Unfortunately, this is not the game plan that we had originally planned out. His ankle is not exactly feeling the best so I’ve had to hit a couple more drives than I normally would. Obviously, it was a great day. We got on a little…