Charlie has played alongside Tiger Woods on several occasions(Image: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Tiger Woods has always been eager to shield his son Charlie from the immense pressures that come with being the child of a golfing legend, and his caution has been abundantly clear
Tiger Woods has always been fiercely protective of his son Charlie, making every effort to shield him from the enormous pressure that comes with being the offspring of a golfing icon.
Now 16, Charlie continues to impress in the junior golf world, and Tiger’s enduring concern is evident: he wants his son to be seen as a regular kid, not a prodigy weighed down by his father’s legacy. Yet, Charlie’s recent performances, especially his win at the Team TaylorMade Invitational this week, indicate that he’s not just coping with the limelight but flourishing under it with a mature and grounded demeanor.
The young golfer’s victory at the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event, hosted at Streamsong Resort’s Black Course in Florida, was a significant achievement. With a final-round 66 to finish at 15-under-par, he outperformed a field that included six of the top-10 ranked junior players in the nation.
This win catapulted Charlie over 500 places to No. 14 in the AJGA rankings, securing him a spot in the esteemed Rolex Junior All-American event. His scorecard, featuring 17 birdies and an eagle over three rounds, attests to his talent.
Tiger, currently sidelined due to Achilles surgery, was recently seen watching Charlie compete at the Florida Amateur Championship, proudly looking on from a golf cart. His presence not only signifies his support but also his caution.
Tiger has always made it clear that his son Charlie is an individual in his own right, not just a mini-me. On the Another Golf Podcast in 2022, the now 49 year old golf icon remarked: “He’s a kid. Don’t compare him to me because he’s not me. He’s Charlie.”
Charlie, despite the inevitable comparisons, has shown remarkable composure. Following his AJGA victory, he demonstrated a level of humility and concentration that, while reminiscent of his father’s early days, is uniquely his.
“I didn’t look at the leaderboard once today,” Charlie declared, showcasing a mental toughness akin to Tiger’s. “On the fairway after hitting the green on 18, [my caddie] was like: ‘You make par here, you’re going to be fine.'”
