After the first round, the stars of the PNC Championship weren’t the leaders, Mike and Justin Thomas, who fired a 57 in the scramble format to take a two-shot edge over Tiger and Charlie Woods.
No, the players who captured the attention and the hearts of all who watched were Annika Sorenstam and the youngest competitor ever in this event, her 11-year-old son Will McGee.
Fans of the game know Will from Sorenstam’s few appearances on the LPGA Tour the last couple of years. She has played in the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions and made an appearance in the Gainbridge LPGA when it was held at Lake Nona, her home club in Orlando. In 2021, Sorenstam won the U.S. Senior Women’s Open and, as a result of that title, played in the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles, where she won that championship in 1996.
Her husband Mike McGee has been carrying her bag and offering encouragement throughout. And their children Ava and Will haven’t missed a shot.
Will has become a media star, offering critiques and strategies for his mom’s game in interviews on Golf Channel.
Now, after draining birdie putts with style and loving on his parents, Will McGee is the buzz of the PNC Championship.
Like mother, like son.@ANNIKA59 | @PNCchampionship pic.twitter.com/ZpXcEWIGx4
— LPGA (@LPGA) December 17, 2022
Will McGee gives it an excellent roll to save par and stay at 9-under. 👏
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 17, 2022
📺: @nbc and @peacock pic.twitter.com/Xo5UtUOkkv
Finishing strong 🎯 @ANNIKA59 goes right at it on 18 @PNCChampionship. pic.twitter.com/n7RTwdhf5y
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) December 17, 2022
This is what it's all about ❤️ @ANNIKA59 | @PNCChampionship https://t.co/NBM7l3u95h pic.twitter.com/zWZD37JD6T
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) December 17, 2022
What a debut! 🤩 We are all proud of you, Will 👏#PNCchampionship #CelebrateFamily @ANNIKA59 pic.twitter.com/4FMY8ASfaS
— PNC Championship (@PNCchampionship) December 17, 2022
This is what December golf is all about.
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