Charlie Woods isn’t just carrying a famous last name anymore, he’s now carrying momentum. On Friday, all eyes will be on the 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods as he tees off in the final round of the Junior PGA Championship, sitting in a tie for second place after back-to-back rounds of 6-under 66.
Woods enters the final round at 12-under par, trailing only Lunden Esterline, who sits at 19-under and has been red-hot all week. But make no mistake — Charlie is in striking distance, both for the championship and a potential spot on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. The top two finishers earn automatic berths, making Friday’s final round one of the most important rounds of Charlie’s young career.
Rising to the Moment, Just Like His Dad
When a two-hour weather delay could’ve rattled anyone, Woods stepped up and immediately birdied the first hole. He showed the type of focus that’s long been associated with his father, and followed it with steady, aggressive golf. His round ended the way it began: with a birdie, thanks to a five-foot approach that showed poise beyond his years.
“My round was pretty up and down, and it gave me a heart attack out there,” Woods told the Lafayette Journal & Courier after the round. “But nine birdies is pretty good… Overall pretty solid round. Pretty good position going into tomorrow.”
A Star on the Rise, Not Just a Name
Charlie Woods is currently ranked 20th in the American Junior Golf Association rankings and already has hardware to his name, having won the AJGA Team TaylorMade Invitational in May. While he missed the cut at the U.S. Junior Amateur earlier this year, this week has been a different story entirely — one that looks more and more like a breakout.
This isn’t just a fun father-son sideshow anymore. The kid’s got game. Last December, he and Tiger nearly won the PNC Championship, losing in a playoff to the Langers. But now, Charlie’s carving out his own legacy. He made his first hole-in-one during that event.
It’s Charlie who’s become the center of attention this week, showing he can handle the spotlight and the pressure that comes with his famous lineage.
A win would be massive. A Ryder Cup berth would be a statement. Either way, one thing’s clear: Charlie Woods isn’t just “Tiger’s kid” anymore. He’s his own threat on the course — and Friday could be the day he officially arrives.
