Charlie Woods Makes Golf History, Securing Junior Tournament Victory with Tiger Woods as Caddie
Charlie Woods emerges victorious in a junior golf tournament, displaying exceptional skill alongside his father, golf legend Tiger Woods A new generation of talent shines brightly, bringing delight to fans and raising hopes for future successes
Tiger Woods returned to the winner's circle this weekend, but it was a different type of victory than golf fans are used to witnessing. In a role reversal, Woods served as a caddie for his son Charlie, who, at 14 years old, recorded his best round yet and emerged victorious in his age group's regional qualifier for the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championships.
After starting with a round of 71 (-1), the young golfer impressed with a remarkable nine birdies, achieving a personal-best score of 66 at Mission Inn Resort in Orlando, Florida. This outstanding performance secured his place in the championship finale, which will be held at Koasati Pines in Coushatta, Louisiana in November.
Despite a challenging competition from his opponents towards the end of the tournament, Woods showcased the same level of composure under pressure that characterized his father's successful career, resulting in a triumphant victory by a narrow margin of one stroke, courtesy of back-to-back birdies.
"It's difficult to comprehend," said the 14-year-old Woods to tournament organizers, "when you find yourself tied for the lead and the only way to secure victory is by shooting a superb low round."
"Just focus on each shot, without worrying about the future. Keep pushing forward and stay determined."
Having the opportunity to seek guidance from a caddie with 82 PGA Tour victories was a valuable asset. This was evident in the Instagram picture posted by Shane Croft, father of Woods' golfing partner Chase.
"It's wonderful, as we simply exist in our own secluded realm and approach each challenge with utmost concentration," Woods expressed, speaking about his collaboration with his father.
"He keeps me grounded. I may start discussing the upcoming tee shot, but he intervenes, saying, 'No. Let's concentrate on this specific shot. Focus intensely, as this is our primary objective.'"
Woods helps his son decide his next shot during the tournament.
This is not the first time the duo has collaborated on the course. Woods, who is 47 years old, was also responsible for carrying the bag at the regional qualifier last year, which took place at the same location. During that event, his son achieved a remarkable 68 round, resulting in a tied-fourth position, marking a career-best performance at that time.
No Tiger at the Ryder Cup
In December, a few months later, the duo sported coordinated attire at the PNC Championship in Orlando. They achieved a shared eighth place among a stellar group of 20 players, all of whom had won either a major championship or The Players tournament, along with their family members.Despite being a 15-time major winner, Woods has made limited appearances on the course recently due to the lingering impact of his car accident injuries from February 2021. While he participated in The Masters, he was forced to withdraw early and subsequently missed the remaining three major tournaments in 2023. In April, Woods underwent ankle surgery, which was deemed "successful."
With limited competitive appearances, Woods had a slim chance of participating in his ninth Ryder Cup at the 44th edition held in Rome on Friday. Although American captain Zach Johnson did not completely dismiss the prospect of selecting Woods in January, it seemed highly unlikely considering his lack of tournament exposure.
@media screen and (min-width:730px) {
#ck_cta > video.mobVid {
display: none;
}
#ck_cta > video.dskVid {
display: block;
}
}
However, Johnson mentioned that despite offering text support from the "inner corner," Woods will not be physically present at the Marco Simone Golf Club to cheer on the team as they strive for their first away victory in 30 years.
Design by Nichols Architects / Photo by Mike Butler
The story behind Michael Jordans ultra-private, ultra-exclusive personal golf course
"Hes got a lot on his plate," Johnson told reporters Monday.
He is the most exceptional player of our era, and we are fortunate that he is American. We aim to make the most out of his expertise, insight, openness, and enthusiasm.
During the tournament week, it would be unjust to inquire about matters if you are not intimately involved within the team and are not present in their inner circle, walking side by side with these individuals.
"He can give us insights, dont get me wrong, but at the same time, I dont know if thats proper and I think he would understand completely."
