PGA TOUR/Instagram
Tiger Woodsspent some time with a very special — and very tiny — fan at the Genesis Invitational.
During the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 16, the professional golfer, 49, ran over to meet his friend and fellow golferJustin Thomas' infant daughter, Molly Grace, who turns 3 months old on Feb. 18. The sweet moment was captured ina clipshared on the PGA Tour’s official Instagram account.
Woods had initially committed to playing in the invitational, despite hismother Kultida’s Feb. 4 death, but he ultimately decided to pull out, saying in a Feb. 10 post onXthat he was “just not ready” and “still processing” the loss of his mom. Instead, he made an appearance on Sunday to watch some of the action and fulfill his duties as tournament host.
Weeks afterwelcoming his daughteron Nov. 18, new dad Thomas revealed that he was getting lots of parenting advice from his golf friends, particularly Woods. He told thePGA Tourin December that the golf star — who sharestwo kids, daughter Sam, 17, and son Charlie, 16, with ex-wifeElin Nordegren— was “always checking in” on him as he adjusted to fatherhood.
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“I’ve definitely seen a new side of him,” Thomas said of Woods. “I mean, it’s just been really cool. He’s so — he’s always checking in wanting to see how I’m doing, how Jill’s doing, how Molly’s doing. He knew when Jill’s surgery was, and he called the night before asking how everybody’s doing."
“He loves his kids so much and he knows how special family is,” Thomas added. “He just knows even still being a competitor, like just the love you have for your children is so different and you don’t necessarily have to lose your competitive drive, and if anything, it could get even more. It’s just about separating the two, but also just enjoying it.”
Now that Woods' own children are teenagers, they have transitioned from being fans in the crowd at their dad’s golf tournaments to joining in the action on the green.
From left: Charlie Woods, Sam Woods and Tiger Woods at the PNC Championship on Dec. 17, 2023.David Cannon/Getty
David Cannon/Getty
A source close to the pro golfer told PEOPLE in 2020 that Woods enjoys hanging out with Charlie (and now Sam!) on the course. “Charlie clearly loves the times he spends with his dad on the golf course,” the source said. “It’s a definite bonding activity for the two of them.”
source: people.com