Woods qualified for his first Junior Amateur championship at age 14; his son Charlie did the same at 15.
The younger Woods will attempt to win the U.S. Junior Amateur title next month in Michigan. Charlie Woods is on track to follow in the footsteps of his father’s legendary golf career.
Tiger Woods’ 15-year-old son qualified for his first U.S. Junior Amateur Championship by taking first place in a qualifying event at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida, on June 19. Charlie Woods, who played in a PGA qualifier earlier this year, qualified for this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur in July. Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images
Tiger Woods played in his first U.S. Junior Amateur at age 14 and made it to the semifinals. He returned and won the tournament the following year, in 1991, at age 15.
This was the start of a run of three straight victories at the U.S. Junior Amateur before he moved on to professional golf. The elder Woods remains the event’s only three-time winner.
With his June 19 victory, Charlie is now among the field for this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur, to be played July 22-27 at historic Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The course has hosted six of the U.S. Open’s 17 major championships in history.
“It feels great to qualify for my first USGA championship,” Charlie Woods said after the match, according to NBC Sports. “I’m looking forward to competing in the U.S. Junior Amateur next month, especially at a historic venue like Oakland Hills.
Tiger Woods and his son Charlie walk in front of the U.S. Open June 10, 2024 in North Carolina. David Cannon/Getty Images
U.S. Junior Amateur Championship The U.S. Junior Amateur opened in 1948 and, according to the United States Golf Association, features the best American golfers under the age of 19. Current world No. 1 Scotty Scheffler is a former U.S. Junior Amateur champion in 2013. Charlie Woods shot a 1-under 71 to win the qualifying tournament on June 19, and his famous father was there to watch him, a USGA spokesperson told The Athletic. “I didn’t play very well the first two holes, but I played really well the last 16,” said Charlie Woods. “I just told myself not to make any more bogeys or doubles, and when I had some good birdie opportunities I took advantage of them. My biggest strength today was putting. I made a lot of putts when I needed to.
This is the last important step for the young Woods. He led his Benjamin, Fla., high school team to a state championship last year as a 14-year-old freshman.
He’s also teamed with the Tigers multiple times during his burgeoning career. The two have played together four years in a row as partners in the PNC Championship in Orlando, which brings together golf stars and their families.
Charlie attempted to qualify for his first PGA Tour event earlier this year, but failed to qualify for the Cognizant Classic in February. Tiger was 16 when he played in his first PGA Tour event on a sponsor’s exemption.
Scott Stump
Scott Stump is a trends reporter and author of This is TODAY (subscribe here!), a daily newsletter that delivers today’s news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and everyday fun straight to your inbox. Since 2011, she has been writing regular articles and news stories for TODAY.com about pop culture, parenting, politics, health, style, food and more.
