Tiger Woods is close -- to beating son Charlie at golf

Tiger Woods’ 7-year-old son Charlie has taken up where his father left off — beating most of the other kids at golf — and dad’s now playing catch up.

Three days after the younger Woods came in T2 in his first tourney, a U.S. Kids Golf contest in the Boys 7 category, the proud papa (in Sunday red, natch) appeared on CBS Sports’ Sunday broadcast of the Quicken Loans National. There, he got to answer the same question he’s been asked since he went on the DL in September and will likely be asked until he returns to competition or retires.

“Can you give us the real scoop? Are you close?” Jim Nantz asked Tiger, who was on hand at the tournament he hosts to present Billy Hurley the winner’s trophy .

“Close to what?” said Woods. “Beating Charlie? Yeah, I’m close to beating Charlie. That’s about it.”

That really is about all there is to say concerning Woods the Elder’s chances of making it back to the PGA Tour this year. It’s certainly not for lack of desire or effort on the part of Charlie’s 40-year-old pop.

“I want to play. Put it that way. I want to play. I don’t know if I will, but I do want to, and I’m trying,” said Woods. “I’m trying each and every day. I’m doing my workouts ... I’m working my tail off.”

Tiger, sidelined after two back surgeries last fall, recited his stock response to the same ol’ same ol’ — he’s making progress, he’s in condition but not yet in “golf shape,” he’s playing but needs more time to recover between rounds, and he’ll “do it right” this time and not come back until he’s physically ready.

“Well, I’m playing,” said Woods. “Just I need more time.”

Woods conceded he had rushed back too soon from other injuries (“Oh, I did; there’s no doubt about that”), and even won majors with physical limitations, but “this one’s different.”

“I’m older, takes a little longer to recover, to heal,” he said. “And I’m going to do it right so I don’t have another surgery.”

Tiger, about to drop out of the top 600 in the world (he’s ranked 594th), is 100/1 to win the British Open over at golfodds.com. With the old man cheering him on, Charlie carded a 19-over 55 for nine holes at the 1,530-yard Mayacoo Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach.

“It was pretty neat,” Tiger told Nantz. “Very special to get to watch that.”