The son of the golfing great Tiger Woods, Charlie, has bounced back after failing to make this year’s US Open by putting in a strong showing at the Team TaylorMade Invitational
08:17 ET, 27 May 2025Updated 08:24 ET, 27 May 2025
Charlie Woods has bounced back from his US Open setback(Image: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Charlie Woods, the son of legendary golfing icon Tiger, has responded in style after missing out on US Open qualifying earlier this month.
Woods Jnr, 16, failed to get out of local qualifying ahead of the upcoming tournament for the second straight year. Yet the young star has banished his woes by playing his way to just three shots off the lead in the first round of the Team TaylorMade Invitational on Monday.
A rollercoaster of a round saw Woods score an eagle, eight birdies, five bogeys, a triple bogey and just three pars, all on par three holes. He is now tied for fourteenth in a field of 72 players in the invitational-only event, which is taking place at the Streamsong Resort’s Black Course in Bowling Green, Florida.
Charlie’s solid performance so far clearly demonstrates that the youngster has the mental strength to not let his US Open disappointment stand in the way of his ambitions, despite the enormous pressure on his young shoulders.
Charlie was among a record 10,202 entries for the US Open. Despite not making the cut, he did improve on last year’s score in 18-hole local qualifying, posting a three-over 75 at Wellington Golf Club on May 8.
Tiger Woods won the US Open three times while his son Charlie has failed to qualify in his young career (Image: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
That left him seven shots short of being among those who advanced to the 36-hole final stage, whereas a year ago, he shot 81 in the local US Open qualifier.
Woods Jnr’s failure to make the prestigious major will be quite a burden for the young golfer to carry, considering his father’s astronomical success and almost mythical standing in the game.
Tiger can count three US Open titles among his 15 professional majors. He also never had to undergo the first stage of local qualifying.
According to the USGA, Woods was even exempt from the local qualifying in 1992 through 1994, reportedly due to his US Junior Amateur titles. He eventually played his first US Open in 1995 at 20 years old, but didn’t win the tournament until 2000.
Tiger Woods spoke about his son’s progress at the PNC Championship in December 2024(Image: Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
This year’s competition gets underway on June 12 at Oakmont, with Woods Snr not playing as he recovers from a ruptured achilles tendon. In December of last year, the 49-year-old icon hailed his son’s improvement on the course but urged fans to be patient.
“He has gotten better at every facet of the game,” Woods said as he played alongside Charlie at the PNC Championship. “I know he’s been doing this in front of the media for a long time, but I think it’s incredible what he’s been able to accomplish so far, and the ceiling that he has is unlimited.”
Tyler Watts from Huntsville, Alabama and Texas-born Luke Colton lead the Team TaylorMade Invitational, after shooting 67, making them five-under.
Watts and Colton are both ranked in the AJGA Top 10 for junior boys golf, while Woods entered the tournament ranked No. 604. The second round will get underway on Tuesday, with the event’s final round set for Wednesday.
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