The 2024 PGA Tour season has been thrilling, and the PNC Championship just adds icing to the cake. Starting on the 21st of December, the event has 20 teams for the ultimate showdown, including the Tiger Woods and his son Charlie. But what’s special is that Woods’s friend, Fred Couples who won 1992 Masters, is also joining them on the greens this year. The legend will step on the greens with his stepson. Will theirs be a bond to look at at Ritz Carlton?

During the pre-tournament press conference, Couples revealed that he had been eyeing the PNC Championship for a while but only considered participating when his stepson, Hunter Hannemann, showed significant improvement in his golf game.

“At 10 and 11, I knew he played a little golf, and he played football and basketball… but really at 14 and 15,” he said. Hunter nodded in agreement, and the legend continued, “And he showed it Thanksgiving. We played five straight days. He did great. He has no problem hitting a ball.” Knowing the close bond Woods and Couples share, the next question was how did the 15x major winner react to it?

“He does text me. He said, ‘Dude, I’m so excited for you. It’s just the hang that you’re going to love,'” said Couples. However, when asked about the possibility of playing from same tee as Tiger Woods and Charlie, the 65-year-old was quick to shut down the idea, saying, “We are not playing with you and Charlie. That is not going to happen.” Instead, he and his stepson will be paired with Nelly Korda and her father, a prospect that he is clearly excited about. They tee off at 7:31 AM PST on Saturday.

Talking about their bond, Woods once said, “I’ve been lucky enough to have him as basically my dad on Tour. Freddie all the sudden became my buddy on Tour when I first came out, took me under his wing. The ’97 Ryder Cup was it. And then like every year forward, I always played every practice round at Augusta with either [Mark] O’Meara or Fred. And then it’s been Fred pretty much I think the last 15 years.”

Although Fred Couples owns a Green Jacket among his 15 PGA Tour victories, he still feels dominated by the Woods family. But why is Fred Couples not playing with Tiger Woods and his son?

Why is Fred Couples skipping on Tiger Woods and his son?

You see Team Woods has not missed the PNC Championship since 2020, and their consistent performance is a testament to their strong partnership. Team Woods finished T-5 at last year’s PNC Championship, so they’re coming into this year’s tournament with plenty of momentum. Despite Tiger Woods still recovering from back surgery, the family-focused event should be a manageable one for him.

As Woods himself would attest, the PNC Championship is a unique event that offers a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for players looking to unwind and have fun with their loved ones. Even though there’s no cut, the competition remains fierce. Woods and Charlie came close to winning in 2021, finishing second to John Daly and his son, John II. But so far, they haven’t grabbed that title. And let’s not forget other big names like Justin Thomas, Vijay Singh, and Bernhard Langer, who’ve all tasted victory in this event.