Woods said he scheduled that surgery - the sixth on his lower back in the last 10 years - to be sure he recovered in time to play with his son for the fifth straight year.
They posted a 13-under 59 in the scramble format on Saturday and were tied with the last two champions - Bernhard Langer and son Jason, and Vijay Singh and son Qass going into the final day.
Woods hit an array of good shots, including a wedge to inches on the short par-4 seventh, but otherwise downplayed his game by suggesting he still had a lot of rust.
Tiger Woods impressed in his first competitve round since the British Open in July. (AP PHOTO)
This was more about spending 36 holes on a brisk day at the Ritz-Carlton Club Orlando with his son and daughter, Sam, who caddied for her father for the second straight year. Their mother, Elin, was among those in the gallery in a tournament that is all about family.
"We're trying to pull off each and every shot for each other, and to ham-and-egg," Woods said. We picked each other up, which was great. And Charlie made pretty much most of the putts today."
Langer and his son made eight birdies in a nine-hole stretch in the middle of the round, and they had an eagle on the 14th hole.
Singh and his son, who won this event in 2022, shot 28 on the back nine.
Padraig Harrington and son Paddy, and Tom Lehman and son Sean, were at 12-under 60.
Having Team Woods in the mix is enough to get attention.
"It's great for the tournament and happy for them," Langer said. "Should be fun for the crowd tomorrow to come out and watch everybody play."
Woods hasn't competed since the British Open in July.
For Team Woods, it's a matter of not looking too far ahead. The father knows that all too well with his record-tying 82 titles on the PGA Tour. The son got a lesson in that this summer.
Charlie Woods qualified for his first US Junior Amateur, making it to Oakland Hills but not staying very long. He shot rounds of 82-80 and didn't make it to match play. He also fell short in Monday qualifying for the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour and U.S. Open qualifying.
But he said the US Junior was his biggest learning moment.
"The PNC Championship is for players who won a major or The Players hampionship and a family member.
