Tiger Woods’ Son, Charlie Woods, Struggles in AJGA Debut

Charlie Woods embarked on a significant milestone in his burgeoning golf career over the weekend (March 22-24) as he finally debuted with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Tiger Woods, who had a storied amateur career with the organization.

Competing on a sponsor’s exemption at the Will Lowery Junior Championship held at Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford, North Carolina, the 15-year-old Woods faced some challenges, finishing 21-over to secure a tie for 32nd among the 50 competitors who completed all 54 holes. Notably, one player withdrew after the second round.

With Tiger watching closely and Charlie gaining fame in his own right, security was notably tight at the event, with armed guards stationed at the entrance checking IDs before issuing badges. This heightened security was a response to previous incidents, particularly during Charlie’s attempt to qualify for his first PGA Tour event in Florida on February 22, where fans disregarded officials’ requests to maintain a respectful distance.

Charlie’s performance in his AJGA debut didn’t quite reach par in any of the three rounds. In his opening round, he managed three birdies but also struggled with five bogeys and two double-bogeys, finishing with a 6-over 78 on the challenging 6,948-yard, par-72 course.

The second round saw Woods making just one birdie but reducing his double-bogey count to one while increasing his bogey total to eight, resulting in a 9-over 81 and leaving him tied for 40th after 36 holes.

The final round proved to be eventful for Charlie, recording four birdies along with four bogeys, three double-bogeys, and seven pars for another 6-over 78, bringing his total to 21-over for the tournament, tying him for 32nd place.

Meanwhile, the event’s winner, Patmom Malcom, finished at 7-under, securing victory by a margin of eight shots over his closest competitor and surpassing Woods by 28 strokes.

It’s evident that Charlie Woods has significant shoes to fill to match his father’s accomplishments in the AJGA. Tiger Woods, a former AJGA standout, won eight out of 13 starts on the circuit from 1991 to 1993, earning him a place among the organization’s top performers. He was also honored as the Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992.

Interestingly, the AJGA’s all-time victories leader is Tiger’s longtime rival, Phil Mickelson, who clinched 12 first-place finishes before transitioning to the PGA Tour, where he achieved further success.

Before turning professional on August 29, 1996, Tiger Woods made history in the amateur ranks, winning three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles from 1991 to 1993 and later becoming the first player to secure three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles from 1994 to 1996.

Since turning professional, Woods has enjoyed remarkable success, tallying 82 PGA Tour victories, matching the all-time record, and securing 15 major championships, trailing only Jack Nicklaus’ 18.