He wanted to win: Charlie Woods cries after being disqualified from U.S. Junior Amateur after violent fight…
Golf is part of Tiger Woods’ family, but now there’s apparently something else: USGA championships.
On Wednesday evening, Charlie Woods, the 15-year-old son of the 15-time major champion, became the second member of the Woods family to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. The younger Woods shot a one-under score of 71 to secure medalist honors at the Eagle Trace Golf Club qualifier in Coral Springs, Fla., grabbing one of 264 spots in the field of the junior game’s most prestigious championship. Woods overcame a slow start in qualifying to score five birdies over the final 16 holes to take the qualifying lead by one stroke, according to the USGA. “I didn’t play very well the first two holes, but then I played really well the last 16 holes,” the younger Woods said Wednesday. “I told myself not to make any more bogeys or shots and when I got a great birdshot I enjoyed it. Putting was my biggest strength today.” I took a lot of photos when I needed them. ”
Tiger’s only son has achieved a cult-level of fame among golf fans in the years since his debut at the PNC Fathers and Sons Championship. As his junior golf career continues to develop in South Florida, that fame has only grown, but it has also changed. After Charlie’s brilliant (and strangely tigerish) debut brought attention to his golf game, the younger Woods stepped into the spotlight, spending the final months as his father’s swing coach.
“I trust him with my swing and my game,” Tiger said at the US Open last week. “He’s seen it more than anybody in the world. He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anybody in the world.” I tell him what to look for, especially with my putting. He gave me some little details today, which was great, because I’m so focused on hitting certain putts on certain pins that I tend to forget some of the things I’m working on.
If nothing else, the U.S. Junior Amateur is a reminder that the younger Woods’ competitive career is still going strong. In recent months, Charlie had several failed competition opportunities, including failure to select Cognizant Classic in his hometown. At the end of last year, a high school Toby Harbeck coach talked about his development as a player. “There is a specific pin that you don’t want to chase, he will follow everything. If I can break him a little, he will be a much better player,” said Harbeck, but … “He can bomb it over 300 with heartbeat. “There are different modes in this. Sometimes you make nice little turns, but sometimes you go into ultra mode and just fly.”
The focus now shifts to Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan, where the younger Woods will play in the U.S. Junior Amateur, the same tournament his father won three times as a junior golfer. Woods’ performance will be closely scrutinized in his first major event, but he says he loves it. “It’s an amazing feeling to qualify for your first USGA championship,” he said. “The USGA means a lot to me. I want to win USGA championships and hopefully one day the U.S. Open.”