Charlie Woods, son of golf legend Tiger Woods, is encountering a difficult start at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, held this year at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas, Texas. The 16-year-old shot an 11-over-par 81 in the opening round, leaving him near the bottom of the leaderboard and tied for 242nd place out of 264 competitors. This performance poses a significant hurdle in Charlie’s attempt to live up to his father‘s legacy, especially in a tournament where Tiger once dominated.
Tiger Woods set an extraordinary standard at this very event, winning the U.S. Junior Amateur three consecutive times from 1991 to 1993 and becoming its youngest victor at age 15. He then claimed three straight U.S. Amateur titles, marking an era of unprecedented amateur success that launched his celebrated professional career. Meanwhile, Charlie has yet to find his footing in the same competitive arena.
Father’s Presence and the Pressure at the Course
Tiger Woods was present at Brook Hollow, supporting his son throughout the first round, attracting an unusually large crowd and security detail. The attention surrounding Charlie underscores the pressure to live up to his father‘s accomplishments. After a shaky start marked by bogeys on six of his first eight holes, Charlie faces an uphill battle. The cut for advancing to the match play stage is projected at 2-over-par, which means he must markedly improve in the second round to stay in contention.
The tournament’s format includes two rounds of stroke play at Brook Hollow and Trinity Forest golf courses; following these, the top 64 players advance to match play. The remainder of the event, culminating in the final match scheduled for July 26, will be held at Trinity Forest. Currently, California’s Kailer Stone and China’s Qiyou Wu lead the competition at five-under-par, signaling a tough field that Charlie must chase to keep his hopes alive.
Previous U.S. Junior Performances Reveal Steep Learning Curve
This year’s outing marks Charlie’s second consecutive early exit at the U.S. Junior. In 2024, he was unable to qualify for the cut at Oakland Hills in Michigan, falling short in his debut appearance. The gulf in performance between him and his father, who set records and dominated junior golf, remains pronounced. Nonetheless, Tiger Woods remains confident in his son‘s potential and growth as a serious competitor.
Progress and Encouragement from Tiger Woods
Reflecting on their recent experience playing together at the 2024 PNC Championship in Orlando, Tiger Woods expressed pride in Charlie’s development. The father–son duo impressed at the event with a strong final round score of 15-under-par 57, matching Team Langer’s total at 28-under-par, with Charlie achieving his first-ever hole-in-one during that round to the delight of the crowd.
“It’s one of the highlights we’ve ever had together,”
Tiger Woods remarked.
“We were right there all weekend, and that moment was so special for both of us.”
He added,
“He has gotten better at every facet of the game,”
and
“That’s a commitment to practicing and developing as a player. I think a lot of people forget he’s only 15. It’s incredible what he’s done already, and the ceiling he has is unlimited.”
—Tiger Woods, Golf Legend
The Challenge Ahead for Charlie Woods in 2025
Despite a tough opening round at the U.S. Junior Amateur, Charlie Woods still has one more stroke play round to make the cut and advance to the match play portion of the championship. He now tees off on Tuesday morning at Trinity Forest, where the course demands precision and strategy. The margin for error is small with top competitors like Stone and Wu already separating themselves from the pack.
The pressure to measure up to Tiger Woods’ historic junior career is intense and unavoidable, but Charlie’s youth and growth suggest room for improvement. This tournament could provide a critical learning experience as he aims to establish his own legacy in the sport. Fans and observers alike will be watching to see if Charlie can rise to the occasion and demonstrate the potential his father has spoken of so highly.
As Tiger Woods supports his son’s journey, the sporting world remains both anxious and hopeful about whether Charlie Woods will one day match or surpass the achievements that define Tiger’s legendary status.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What illness did Tiger Woods have?
A. In April 2023, Woods played in The Masters and advanced past the initial rounds despite the cold and wet weather. However, he decided not to play on the last day, explaining that arthritis was the reason. Later, he shared on social media that he had a subtalar fusion surgery to treat arthritis caused by a past ankle bone injury.
Q. What addiction did Tiger Woods have?
A. Following the widely covered scandals in 2009, he attended the Gentle Path center in Mississippi for six weeks to address sex addiction. Later in 2010, he sought help at The Meadows in Wickenburg, Arizona, due to his struggles with Vicodin and Ambien addiction.
Q. What type of surgery did Tiger Woods have?
A. In September, Woods had surgery on his lower back to relieve pressure on nerves. This was his sixth back surgery in ten years. Woods has also had severe injuries to his Achilles before.