Tiger Woods’ son Charlie shows trait of iconic golfer after US Open misery

In a remarkable achievement, Charlie Woods, son of the legendary golfer Tiger Woods, clinched victory at the US Junior Amateur qualifier held in Florida, outpacing 75 other competitors. Charlie’s impressive one-under-par score of 71 at the Eagle Trace Golf Club on Wednesday secured his spot in the forthcoming US Junior Amateur Championship. He won the qualifier by a narrow margin of one stroke and is now set to compete at the prestigious Oakland Hills Country Club, which boasts the North and recently restored South courses.

This upcoming event will see Charlie face off against 263 other elite youth golfers, with the competition comprising two rounds of stroke play on both courses. The top 64 players will advance to the match play stage on the South Course, which will ultimately determine the championship winner. The champion will earn a coveted spot in the 2025 US Open at Oakmont.

Despite a challenging start that included bogeys on holes 3 and 10, Charlie finished strong, scoring three birdies over four holes on the back nine. Reflecting on his performance, the 15-year-old stated, “I didn’t play great my first two holes, but I played really good for the last 16.” He emphasized the importance of minimizing mistakes, saying he reminded himself to avoid further bogeys or double bogeys and capitalized on birdie opportunities.

Expressing his dedication to the sport, Charlie said, “The USGA means a lot to me. I want to win USGA championships and hopefully one day the US Open.” He is poised to build his own legacy at the historic Oakland Hills course, a venue steeped in golfing tradition. Jeff Judge, the Junior Amateur chairman and former president of Oakland Hills, shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I look forward to seeing the next generation of future golf stars at Oakland Hills in July competing for the most coveted championship in junior golf.”

Tiger Woods made a significant mark at the US Junior at the age of 14, reaching the semifinals and securing his first US Junior Amateur title the following year at Bay Hill. He set a record with three consecutive wins. Now, over 20 years after Tiger competed in the US Ryder Cup team at Oakland Hills and experienced defeat alongside Phil Mickelson against European pairs Colin Montgomerie with Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke with Lee Westwood, his son Charlie is set to play on the same iconic greens.

Earlier in April, Charlie attempted to qualify for the US Open at the Legacy Golf and Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie but narrowly missed the cut. Now, he aims to make a significant impact at the US Junior Amateur Championship, a stepping stone towards his ultimate goal of winning a US Open and forging his own path in the world of golf.