Charlie Woods
Charlie Woods, son of 15-time Major champion Tiger, came agonizingly close to securing a spot in the US Open, missing qualification by just a single stroke. The 17-year-old posted an even par 72 at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida, falling just short of a playoff position by one shot.
Woods, who made headlines after his ‘I’m broke’ claim to his celebrated father, was vying for a berth in the final qualifying round for the June US Open, competing against experienced professionals and talented amateurs.
His hopes of earning a place in the tournament – a title his father claimed three times – were dashed in heartbreaking fashion by the narrowest of margins. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson warned he’s ‘detonated’ changes of PGA Tour lifeline.
Despite the difficult result, Woods demonstrated marked improvement over his previous two outings at Eagle Trace Golf Club, finishing tied for 10th place – just one spot outside the playoff.
The 17-year-old grabbed attention in February when he verbally committed to Florida State University. Woods currently holds the No. 14 ranking on the Rolex American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rankings and is not anticipated to begin his college career until September 2027.
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 10: Tiger Woods of The United States plays a chip shot watched by his son Charlie Woods of The United States during practice prior to the 2024 U.S. Open on the No.2 Course at The Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
Tiger has previously spoken about playing alongside his son and observing his development throughout the journey. He said: “It’s fun to be a part of the process with Charlie and go through it and see where the opportunities that he has that he has created for himself by playing better, places that he could play, wants to play and ultimately we’ll decide where he wants to go play.”
In a separate interview, however, he elaborated on the unique and demanding challenges his son faces that the elder Woods never had to contend with.
He explained: “We didn’t have cell phones. We would have written letters that would show up in the mailbox. ‘Oh, my God, I got a letter.’
“It’s just very different, how fast coaches can communicate with the family members and the player that they’re trying to recruit. It’s just a different world. Not saying it’s good or bad, it’s just different.”
Charlie claimed his first AJGA championship in May last year as a 16 year old, securing a three-stroke victory at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in Florida. Tiger, by comparison, qualified for his first PGA Tour major at the same age when he made it into what is now known as The Genesis Invitational – previously called the Nissan Los Angeles Open in 1992.
His father competed in 13 tournaments between 1991 and 1993, claiming victories on eight occasions, a record that stands as the joint highest behind Phil Mickelson.
Since his 2025 victory, the 17 year old has competed in eight tournaments, with his standout performance being a tied ninth-place finish at the Boys Junior PGA Championship. Across the five tournaments that followed, he has managed to secure two top-20 finishes.
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