In ORLANDO, Charlie Woods made a national golf debut at the PNC Championship alongside his father Tiger when he was just 11 years old. For four years in a row now, Team Woods has participated in the end-of-year competition held at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
During that period, Charlie has accomplished several feats such as hitting his first eagle, executing shots in both directions with ease, exhibiting a powerful swing when using his driver and sinking lengthy birdie putts – all of which mirror the mannerisms highlighted by his Hall of Fame father throughout the last quarter-century. Presently at 14 years old, Charlie has taken on more challenging playing conditions by retreating to a tee located at par with ace golfers like John Daly, Jim Furyk,Nelly Korda,Vijay Singh,and Steve Stricker.
Tiger evaluated Charlie’s game and remarked, “I have observed a significant increase in his speed since last year. However, I believe it is primarily due to his rapid growth rate rather than any other factor. Growing pains are just part of teenage life.”
Charlie’s size and strength are impressive. On the first round of Saturday, he effortlessly launched a drive 320 yards down the fairway that landed just past the back of green on hole 12 – which is par-4!
Tiger stated that he lacked the speed at his age compared to him, and also didn’t have access to similar equipment which has significantly evolved over time.
It’s challenging to assess Charlie’s skill level compared to other junior golfers in the country based on his annual appearances on television. Although he is often seen hitting outstanding shots alongside the world-famous golfer, it remains unclear whether he possesses superior abilities or not. Nonetheless, social media and individuals present at events regularly speculate that Charlie has what it takes for a triumphant professional career in PGA Tour and even follow his father’s footsteps by winning prestigious championships.
Tiger Woods provided valuable advice about exerting power to young golfers, including Charlie.
On Friday’s PNC Pro-Am, Team Woods showed off their skills with a healthy-looking Tiger and Charlie hitting some impressive bombs. Here are all the highlights you might have missed.
The unexpected caddie for Tiger Woods adds another level of familial involvement to the PNC Championship.
Although it is a possibility, it would be prudent to take a step back and acknowledge the significant progress that Charlie has made in just a brief period of time. It should be noted that his childhood mostly involved soccer while growing up in South Florida. Moreover, only as recent as 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were put into place worldwide did he discover an intense interest in golf – taking this sport more seriously than before – which was merely three years prior.
According to a Top 50 Teacher in America as recognized by Golf Digest, individuals should refrain from comparing this individual with other children who have devoted more time to competitive golf. The teacher suggests waiting and observing his progress after five or ten years instead.
The point remains valid, even if his last name happens to be Woods which makes it nearly impossible.
Charlie participated in his first full competitive junior schedule this year, primarily competing in state and regional competitions.
Charlie is currently ranked 1,326th out of a total of 10,616 juniors in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings. Additionally, he holds the 86th spot among players from Class of 2027. Charlie has participated in sixteen JGS recorded events and won two victories; his best score being a low round of 66 achieved during September at Mission Inn located in Howey-in-the-Hills Florida where he secured victory at Notah Begay III Florida Regional qualifier tournament. It’s important to note that despite playing for his high school team which recently emerged as champions in the non-JGS Class I A Florida State Championship with scores consisting mainly between78-76 over various rounds played last month on this same course – those scores are not reflected within JSG ranking results.Currently only performances occurring under their (JGD) system will be factored into any assessments or final rankings displayed publicly by them online etc.,
Florida is well-known for producing numerous Division I golfers from its talented pool of high school students. Charlie recently made his mark in the iWanamaker ranking system, earning an overall statewide rank of 80th out of a total group of 4,088 boys this season. Notably, he also secured the ninth place as freshman amongst a class size of 657 and ranked at number twenty-eight within Class A1 -the competitive division that Benjamin School belongs to- with over fourteen hundred competitors!
According to the Top 50 Teacher mentioned, Charlie possesses exceptional talent despite being a newcomer in competitive golf. He has the potential for long-term success due to his access to abundant experience and learning opportunities from an expert player known as GOAT. Many young players do not have this advantage that Charlie enjoys, which can give him an edge in developing his skills. The teacher observed that growing up around skilled individuals is beneficial for juniors who want to learn how to play well – something of great benefit evident in Charlie’s case”.
It will be intriguing to observe Charlie’s standing among other competitors on a national level if he participates in more events. Despite being eligible since the age of 13, Charlie has not yet entered any AJGA or USGA amateur tournaments, including the prestigious U.S. Junior Amateur which Tiger won consecutively from 1991-1993.
Tiger expressed, “I offer guidance and suggestions for my child’s growth while still allowing him enough freedom. This is because we encounter a lot of distractions in our lives where many people try to take advantage of us. As a responsible parent, it is essential that I shield my child from these negative influences.”
As a parent, I face the challenge of encouraging my teenage son to become independent while also providing him with an environment to learn and grow. It’s important for me to strike this balance and give him enough freedom. However, in today’s world where there is so much scrutiny on our lives, it can be quite tricky.