It was a big weekend for sports fans of many stripes, as the past three days were full of opportunities to watch top athletes compete under extraordinary circumstances.
Beloved golfers played with their kids at the PNC Championship, some of college football’s best teams launched a new era of the College Football Playoff, a rookie quarterback got his first NFL start, two top women’s basketball teams faced off and a volleyball coach battling cancer raised a championship trophy with her team, among other notable developments.
Here are three of the most inspiring moments from a wild sports weekend.
Tiger Woods had a lot to celebrate this weekend on the golf course despite the fact that he’s still recovering from a recent back procedure.
Woods competed in the PNC Championship event with his son, Charlie, and got to be part of Charlie Woods’ first hole-in-one.
Neither Charlie nor Tiger saw the ball go in, but cameras near the tee box captured the moment they shared after it gradually dawned on both of them what the big cheers coming from near the green meant.
You can hear Tiger Woods let out an emotional “Yeah!” on the video as he gives Charlie a hug.
The Woods went on to lose the PNC Championship to Bernhard and Jason Langer in a playoff, but they both seemed to be feeling nothing but joy in post-playoff interviews.
“It was awesome. No one made a a mistake today … that was the most fun I’ve ever had,” Charlie Woods said.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley and her Penn State volleyball team took down Louisville Sunday in the NCAA volleyball tournament’s championship game — and made history in the process.
With the win, Schumacher-Cawley became the “first woman coach to win the NCAA Division I volleyball title,” according to ESPN.
What made the achievement more impressive is that Schumacher-Cawley is currently battling breast cancer. She said after Sunday’s championship that she’s happy to inspire people but even happier to be surrounded by loving, caring supporters.
“Sure, if I can be an inspiration to someone then I take that but I feel good and I’m lucky to have the people around me. I think thats why we’re successful,” the coach said, per ESPN.
Before taking the field Sunday for his first NFL start, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. shared a quiet moment with the man he was replacing.
Video captured by The Athletic’s Josh Kendall showed the Falcons’ former starter, Kirk Cousins, who was benched last week, speaking with Penix just before he took the field.
Many who have viewed the video have described it as a prayer. Whatever it was, Cousins’ goal seemed to be helping Penix feel confident heading into his big day.
Penix went on to lead the Falcons to a 34-7 win over the New York Giants.
The former Washington quarterback went 18 for 27 for 202 yards and one interception in the game.
