The Florida State Golf Association’s 108th Amateur Championship drew one of golf’s all-time great players to BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday.
Tiger Woods joined the gallery for the first round of the Amateur Championship as his son Charlie tackled the famed BallenIsles South Course.
Woods, who ruptured his left Achilles tendon and underwent surgery in March, followed his son’s group from a golf cart. He did not appear to be wearing a cast or boot on his left leg.
Charlie Woods shot 74 (2-over) and is tied for 39th entering the second round. He’s eight shots back of a trio of leaders at 6-under par.
Woods will begin his second round at 7:45 a.m. on Friday off No. 1 at the BallenIsles East Course. He will be paired with Vero Beach’s James Hassell and Orlando’s Palmer Haynes.
The 108th Amateur Championship is a 72-hole stroke play tournament which will be played June 5-8. The field will cut to the low 70 players with ties after the first 36 holes. The tournament was first hosted in 1915. Former champions include 1976 U.S. Open winner Jerry Pate.
The younger Woods entered the tournament riding momentum from his victory at the Team TaylorMade Invitational on May 28, the first American Junior Golf Association event win of his junior golf career. His AJGA ranking rose more than 500 places to No. 14 overall.
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Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
