At just 16 years old, Charlie Woods stepped into the spotlight and delivered a performance that echoed the competitive spirit of his father, 15-time major champion Tiger Woods.
Over the weekend, Woods tied for the low final round of the day to lead The Benjamin School to its second Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A team title in three years. It comes as Woods’ father was pictured for the first time since back surgery.
The junior golfer, whose contrasting success has shed light on Kai Trump’s recent struggles, carded a 4-under 68 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, including a birdie on the final hole that secured the victory for his team.
The Benjamin School entered the state finals as the No. 1 seed after a strong region qualifier. Woods’ final round surge helped the Buccaneers rally past The First Academy by five shots, clinching the 2025 title.
The team finished four strokes under par as a group, the only squad to post under-par in the challenging state finals field. Individually, Woods tied for 4th at 2-under, just behind medalist Mingbo Jiang and teammate Andrew Tsar.
Watching from the gallery was Tiger Woods himself, and he was seen walking the course throughout the round.
However, Tiger has been clear that he does not want Charlie to be compared to him, saying, “He’s a kid. Don’t compare him to me because he’s not me. He’s Charlie.”
Charlie’s season has been a breakout one, even beyond the state championship spotlight. He clinched his first American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) title at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May, finishing 15-under and beating several top-ranked juniors.
His impressive performance earned him a spot on the AJGA Rolex Junior All-America First Team and he currently ranks 9th among juniors and 4th in the Class of 2027.
Woods’ high-school success is bringing both personal accolades and team triumphs. His school won their previous state title when he was a freshman, and this year’s victory marks their second in three seasons.
With his AJGA win, top-10 ranking, and now a major state high-school title under his belt, he’s increasingly seen as one of the most promising recruits in his class.
While he hasn’t publicly committed to a college program yet, it’s reported that recruiting interest from SEC and ACC schools is strong.
