Charlie Woods, the 15-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods, recently embarked on a journey to qualify for the 2024 US Open at the Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He hoped to advance to the next round of competition ahead of the prestigious tournament and, with a name like Woods, his performance was bound to be a topic of discussion, regardless of his age.
While Charlie Woods failed to qualify for the Cognizant Classic earlier this year, as we reported here, he still attracted plenty of attention to his round in Florida. This event marked his second attempt at qualifying for a major event, showing his determination and passion for the sport.
The U.S. Open Local Qualifier: A Look at Charlie Woods’ Performance
The day started off rough for Charlie Woods. He opened with a bogey on the first hole and double-bogeyed the second. However, he managed to build some momentum with a birdie on the fifth hole. He made a double-bogey on the sixth and finished the front nine at four-over 40.
The back nine proved challenging as well. Charlie failed to record another birdie and stumbled with three bogeys and another double-bogey. This set his score for the round at 9 over 81.
The course of the Legacy Golf & Tennis Club (74.6 rating, 141 slope) wasn’t a piece of cake. Only sis golfers scored at even par or better, and only half of them got scores under par. The leader of the event was Michael Buttacavoli, with a score of 3-under. Five players advanced to the final qualifying out of the 84-player field.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Charlie Woods
Despite not qualifying for the U.S. Open, Charlie Woods remains a promising player. At just 15 years old, he has already shown a level of skill and determination that suggests a bright future in the sport. His next qualifying rounds will be for the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship and the 2024 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship, both of which will take place this summer.
If Charlie Woods is hoping to follow his dad’s footsteps, he still has some time. Tiger was 16 years old when he played his first PGA Tour tournament at Riviera in 1992.
Last year, he was part of The Benjamin School golf team that won the 2023 Florida High School Athletic Association Class A State Championship. As a curious fact, this is a feat his father never achieved.
While this defeat may be a setback, it is clear that Charlie has the talent and determination to overcome challenges. As he navigates his journey, one thing is certain: there will be many more tournaments to come for this promising young player.