Tiger Woods has opened up on his son Charlie’s college recruitment process as he goes about deciding where he will take his next steps towards becoming a professional golfer
18:25 ET, 02 Dec 2025Updated 18:25 ET, 02 Dec 2025
Tiger Woods has opened up about what it has been like to observe and assist his son, Charlie, through his college recruitment process
Tiger Woods has opened up on how his son Charlie’s college recruitment process is “very different” from what he went through as the 16-year-old prepares to take the next steps in his golfing career.
Charlie currently attends the Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida, alongside fellow aspiring golfer Kai Trump, and is expected to graduate in 2027, yet numerous colleges are already vying for his attention in the hope of convincing him to choose their program. Kai Trump, whose mother, Vanessa, is dating Tiger, recently signed for the University of Miami on a golf scholarship after grandfather Donald made his feelings clear on her college choice.
Along with being the son of arguably the greatest golfer to ever live, the teenager also recently saw his stock rise by helping the Benjamin boys golf team to the Florida Class 1A State Championship in November, shooting a four-under 68 in the final round to secure the program’s fifth state title.
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His own individual performances this year have also led to him being ranked at No. 9 in the American Junior Golf Association rankings, yet Charlie remains the only player currently in the Top 10 who has not committed to a university.
According to his father, however, things aren’t quite as simple as they were back when he was that age, although the 15-time major champion has admitted to enjoying the process.
“It’s been very different, the recruiting process. Now you have cell phones. 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,'” Woods said at his annual Hero World Challenge press conference in the Bahamas on Tuesday.
Woods addressed the media for the first time since his back surgery in October on Tuesday(Image: David Cannon, Getty Images)
“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.
“It’s fun to be a part of the process with Charlie and go through it and see where the opportunities 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.”
Charlie has enjoyed a breakout 2025, highlighted by his first AJGA tournament win, a tie for ninth at the Boys’ Junior PGA Championship, and, of course, the high school state championship. He also followed in his dad’s footsteps by earning a spot on the Rolex Junior All-American First Team 35 years later.
Should he wish for advice from someone more his own age regarding his college decisions, however, then he could always turn to fellow golf prodigy Trump, given the 18-year-old has already gone through the process herself.
Kai Trump was officially announced as a member of the University of Miami golf team last month
The U.S. President’s granddaughter revealed her verbal commitment to the University of Miami in August 2024, in which she thanked the 79-year-old for providing her access to his network of golf courses around the country, and has kept up with her development ever since.
Last month, however, Trump was officially announced as a member of the Hurricanes golf team ahead of joining its 2026 class next year, just a few months after doubling down on her commitment to Miami by kicking off her senior year of high school with a subtle nod to the university.
The YouTube sensation has entered her final year at The Benjamin School and took to social media with a celebratory post in August in which several photos featured the unmistakable “U” logo and “20-U-26” written across her car.