Charlie Woods Triumphs in Florida Tournament After U.S. Junior Amateur Struggles
Charlie Woods, the teenage son of golfing legend Tiger Woods, recently declared his determination to “prove to himself” that he could improve after experiencing a challenging time at the U.S. Junior Amateur. At just 15 years old, Charlie faced a difficult debut at Oakland Hills last month. His father, Tiger Woods, watched as Charlie shot…
Charlie Woods, the teenage son of golfing legend Tiger Woods, recently declared his determination to “prove to himself” that he could improve after experiencing a challenging time at the U.S. Junior Amateur.
At just 15 years old, Charlie faced a difficult debut at Oakland Hills last month. His father, Tiger Woods, watched as Charlie shot rounds of 82 and 80, resulting in a 22-over-par finish after 36 holes, which caused him to miss the halfway cut by a significant margin. The father-son duo attracted massive crowds, with many spectators hoping for a stronger performance from Charlie in the 264-player field.
During the event, attention also turned to Tiger, particularly after a spectator captured a photograph of his right leg without a protective sleeve. The image starkly revealed the extent of Tiger’s injuries from his car crash in February 2021.
Despite finishing near the bottom of the pack at the U.S. Junior Amateur, Charlie remained undeterred. He participated in the South Florida PGA Junior Cup presented by Callaway and TopTracer the following week. The event, held on the East Course at BallenIsles Country Club, saw Charlie emerge victorious with a score of 1-under-par over 54 holes. He posted scores of 73, 68, and 73, making him the only player in the field to finish under par. The competition featured 63 boys and 25 girls, with Eva Lye winning the girls’ division.
Reflecting on his victory, Charlie expressed a sense of redemption. “I feel like it was a compilation of a lot of hard work this summer,” he said to a PGA of America official. “I wanted to redeem myself, and I feel great about how I played.” He added, “I wanted it so bad. I felt focused, and I knew what I had to do to get it done. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do better.”
In other news, Tiger Woods played in all four major championships in 2024 for the first time since his 2021 car accident. While he made the cut at The Masters, he finished in last place and subsequently missed the cuts at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open. Tiger has announced that he will not participate in any professional golf tournaments until December when he and Charlie will compete together at the PNC Championship. Describing the annual PGA Tour event as his “fifth major,” Tiger has also dismissed any speculation about his retirement, confirming that he plans to compete at next year’s Open at Royal Portrush.
