Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie Woods, struggles in AJGA debut
Last weekend (March 22-24), Charlie Woods took the next logical step in his young golf career by debuting in the United States Junior Golf Association (AJGA), where his famous father, Tiger Woods, had great amateur success. Sports. Daily.
Playing under a sponsor’s exemption in the Will Lowry Junior Championship at Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford, North Carolina, the 15-year-old Woods struggled through the 54-hole tournament, shooting 21 over par and finishing tied for 32nd out of 50 players who finished. Fifty-one players entered the tournament, but one withdrew in the second round.
Because Tiger was playing and Charlie himself had become very famous, security was reportedly beefed up, with armed guards checking IDs at the entrance before badges were distributed. The increased security measures are apparently related to the behavior Charlie encountered while attempting to qualify for his first PGA Tour event in Florida on February 22, when fans repeatedly ignored requests from tournament officials to keep their distance from Woods, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Charlie shot a 16-over 86 that day, falling short in each of his three rounds, though he never quite made it to his AJGA debut. In his first round at Carolina Trace, Woods had three birdies, including back-to-backs on the sixth and seventh holes, but also had five bogeys and two double bogeys en route to a 6-over 78 on the 6,948-yard, par-72 course. Charlie continued to struggle in the second round, making just one birdie on the 399-yard, par-4 fourth hole. But while he halved his double-bogey tally, recording just one on the 429-yard par-4 fifth, he increased his bogey total, making eight en route to a 9-over 81 that left him tied for 40th after 36 holes.
Woods had a wild final round, recording four birdies, four bogeys, three double bogeys and seven pars for another 6-over 78, putting him at 21 over for the week and tied for 32nd. The winner of the event, Pasumam Malcolm, finished seven points behind with scores of 69-70-70, making him the only player to finish in the red. He ultimately beat his nearest rival by eight strokes and Woods by 28 strokes. Of course, Charlie Woods will have to work hard to match his father’s success on the AJGA. Tiger Woods started 13 times on the tour from 1991 to 1993, winning eight games, tying him for second all-time, according to the organization’s official website. He was also named 1991 and 1992 Rolex Junior Player of the Year.
Fittingly enough, the all-time victories leader in AJGA history is Woods’ longtime rival, Phil Mickelson, who hoisted 12 first-place trophies. Lefty later became one of the few amateurs to win a PGA Tour event.
During his illustrious amateur career, Tiger became the first player to win three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles (1991, 1992, 1993), and then became the first to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles (1994, 1995, 1996) before turning professional on August 29, 1996. Woods has enjoyed some success as a professional, winning 82 times on the PGA Tour and 15 major championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18.
