Charlie Woods needs to learn from his father Tiger’s battles as a young golfer

Over the past seven months, Charlie Woods, son of golf legend Tiger Woods, has faced significant challenges in his burgeoning golf career. At 15, his dreams of following in his father’s footsteps on the PGA Tour have encountered obstacles. He failed to make the cut at his first PGA Tour event, the Cognizant Classic, and also missed the cut at the 124th U.S. Open qualifiers.

His difficulties extended to junior tournaments as well. At the Future Masters held at Dothan Country Club, Charlie finished in a tie for 103rd place, posting rounds of 73 and 76.

Despite these setbacks, Charlie achieved a milestone by qualifying for his first USGA event, the US Junior Amateur, a tournament his father won three times.

To turn his career around and secure a tournament victory, Charlie may need to draw inspiration from his father’s early struggles in the sport. Tiger Woods, in a rare interview with ESPN, shared how he overcame his own fear of competition as a young golfer. At 11, he felt intimidated by an older player at the Junior Worlds, an experience that taught him to focus on small, manageable goals to build confidence and momentum in his game.

To achieve success, Charlie might need to adopt his father’s method of conquering fear and maintaining focus. Tiger’s strict training regimen, instilled by his father Earl Woods, included running four miles in the morning, extensive gym sessions, two to three hours of golf practice, followed by basketball or tennis, and another four-mile run to conclude the day. This disciplined routine helped Tiger refine his skills and mental toughness.

Earl Woods also played a crucial role in shaping Tiger’s career through rigorous mental training. This tradition continues with Tiger now working with Charlie, ensuring his son can handle mental distractions. In a 2022 interview with Paul Azinger and Dan Hicks, Tiger discussed how he challenges Charlie’s mental resilience during practice, using various tactics to distract him. Tiger explained, “If I can get into his head, that means someone else can get in his head. It’s getting to a point where I can’t get in his head, and then no one else can get in there, either.”

By embracing his father’s techniques and focusing on building his mental fortitude, Charlie Woods may find the path to overcoming his current challenges and achieving success in his golfing career.