Charlie Woods bounces back from US Junior disappointment to win first “major”
Charlie Woods responded in true Tiger fashion by winning the South Florida Junior Tournament in his first start since his US Junior failure.
Charlie Woods is showing some of his father’s traits in his golf game and on-course manner, and after his first major tournament win, he seems to have some Tiger-like toughness in him, too.
Just a week ago, Woods missed out on the US Junior Amateur after a tough USGA debut where he finished with a 22-under lead through 36 holes. The 15-year-old, however, appears to have that fighting spirit of Tiger, as he responded in typical Woods fashion by going out and winning his next tee time.
Woods won the South Florida Junior Cup on July 31, one of eight events considered majors on the South Florida Junior Tour.
OK, it\’s not one of \’those\’ Majors that Tiger has 15 of tucked away at home, but its a start and the circumstances of the victory make it even more impressive when you consider what happened last time out.
Woods shot 73-68-73 at the BallenIsles Country Club’s East Course to finish as the only one of the initial field of 63 to end the tournament under par. And even in his postcard comments, Charlie showed the same persistence as his father through his legendary career -this American amateur performance was more passion for success. Only to clarify.
Instead of our trust or sponsor, contact me with other emails from Brandsreceive, accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and send information over 16 years old. “I really wanted it,” Woods said. “I was focused and I knew what I had to do to get it done.” I wanted to prove that I could do more.
“I feel like this is the result of all the hard work I’ve put in over the summer. I wanted to get myself back and I’m happy with how I’m playing.
Having that surname comes with a lot of pressure and expectations for Charlie, but whether his golf game can hold up in the future, he already seems to have a great attitude towards the game. It might help that he’s been in the spotlight before: Woods regularly partners Tiger at the PNC Championship, where comparisons between their swings are hard to ignore. And despite still being young, the teenager has been spotted helping Tiger out on the range and in practice rounds at Augusta and other major championships, with Tiger claiming his son has helped him, especially with putting.
This kind of poor performance in the U.S. Junior Amateur is always going to draw attention, and going forward, every performance like his one at Oakland Hills will now have a question mark over just how good Woods Jr. is. Charlie shot 81 in a local qualifying tournament to try and qualify for the U.S. Open, and also earned a preliminary qualifier for the Cognizant Classic PGA Tour.
It didn’t do him any favors. He barely missed a par 4 with 12 putts to shoot an 86, but again, a lot happened. But those events are well above the level at which a 15-year-old golfer should compete, and Woods has won two events in two months at his level and is generally doing well.
Judging by his performance over the past two weeks, even if he doesn’t reach the heights of his father, it won’t be for a lack of trying. Paul Hayem is a sports journalist who has more than 20 years of experience on the cover of most major sporting events in Sky Sports and BBC Sport. Currently independent and covers major golf courses on the BBC Sport Web. Highlights over the last few years have included covering Monday’s epic Ryder Cup finish at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy win one of the most convincing major victories of the US Open at Congressional in 2011. He also writes betting reviews and is still oddly proud to have rooted for Danny Willett during his Masters win in 2016, with Willett also praising his putting in his pre-Hoylake Open press conference. His favourite interviews have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A keen watcher of any golf on any tour, he unfortunately spends more time writing about golf than playing with his two young children and, as an experienced fair-weather golfer, claims that playing in shorts is worth at least five strokes. The Liverpool native enjoys courses at Hoylake, Birkdale and along the Gulf coast, but says his favourite courses are Kingsbarns and Portrush.
