The world of junior golf is currently ablaze with the ongoing Junior Invitational at the Sage Valley Golf Club – often referred to as the Masters of junior golf. This prestigious event has seen the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Joaquin Niemann, and Akshay Bhatia grace its greens, and currently lists Joshua Bai and Pimpisa Rubrong as frontrunners in their respective divisions. The tournament also showcases the talents of defending champions Asterisk Talley, Giovanni Daniele Binaghi, Luke Colton, Louis Klein, Miles Russell, Michael Riebe, Tyler Watts, and Logan Reilly. Yet, amidst this array of shining stars, the performance of one young golfer, Charlie Woods, is garnering attention – albeit, for the wrong reasons.
The 16-year-old, son of golf icon Tiger Woods, hasn’t had the best start to this tournament. After carding two birdies, six bogeys, and a double bogey on the opening day, he finished with a score of 78, relegating him to the 32nd slot in a field of 36. This performance, particularly following a missed cut in the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, has cast a pall over Woods Jr.’s prospects. Despite a significant improvement in his second round at the aforementioned tournament, he still missed the cut by a hefty eight strokes.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the young prodigy. He ended the 2024 season PNC Championship on a high, securing a hole-in-one. This perfect 7-iron shot on the 4th hole created quite a buzz amongst fans. Furthermore, Woods Jr. has previously tasted victory, having clinched the state championship in 2023, and the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s major championship in the same year. Yet, some pundits argue that he still has a long way to go to make his mark in the golfing world, and the pressure to perform is clearly mounting.
Fan reactions to Woods Jr.’s recent performances have been mixed. Some express disappointment over his 78-point round, while others question his potential to make it to the professional tour. However, it’s important to remember that Woods Jr. is only 16, and a golfer needs to be at least 18 to qualify for the Tour. Despite an unsuccessful attempt to debut at the PGA Tour last year at the Cognizant Classic, he remains one of the promising talents in junior golf.
A few voices in the crowd have urged for less scrutiny on the young golfer, arguing that he should be allowed to enjoy the game without the constant gaze of the media. However, given his lineage, this is easier said than done. Previous instances have seen people flocking to watch him play, drawn by his famous surname.
“He’s way too hard on himself,” opines one fan. Indeed, the pressure of being Tiger Woods’s son is evident. Woods Jr. has been seen visibly upset after poor shots, a sign of the immense stress he is under.
In a somewhat harsh critique, one fan included both Woods Jr. and Kai Trump, granddaughter of President Donald Trump, stating, “Charlie and Kai Trump really have no business being in this tournament. Neither is good enough.” Trump struggled in the first round alongside Woods, finishing last in a field of 24 elite female golfers.
The journey of Charlie Woods is undeniably under the spotlight. As his struggles continue, one wonders, have you ever seen him play live? Would you like to? Share your thoughts!
