Tiger Woods ‘expressionless’ as Charlie shoots 22-over at U.S. Junior Amateur
Charlie Woods, the teenage son of living golf legend Tiger, missed the cut at the halfway stage of his debut in the U.S. Junior Amateur.
Tiger Woods and Charlie WoodsIt was always going to be a struggle for Charlie Woods to progress in the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur.The 15-year-old shot an opening round 12-over 82 and needed birdies if he was going to make the projected cut of 4-over.
Only the top 64 players advanced to Wednesday’s match play.
The 36-hole championship match is played on Saturday.
Charlie put up a valiant effort in the second round as he was supported by his father Tiger, who drew a gallery of his own.
Charlie earned his spot in the 264-player field last month by shooting a 1-under in a qualifier.
He got off to a solid start to his second round on the North Course at Oakland Hills.
Charlie was 1-over through four holes when a storm stopped play for more than an hour.
When play resumed he played the remaining five holes on the front nine in 8-over, courtesy of a triple bogey on the par-4 18th whereby he had two greenside pitches roll back to his feet.
His fifth shot finally held the green.
Charlie Woods
On the back nine, Charlie played six holes in 1-under.
Bogeys at the 7th and 9th meant that he ultimately signed a card for 10-over 80.
It left him on 22-over after 36 holes.
ESPN reported that Tiger was ‘mostly expressionless whether his son hit an excellent or poor shot.’
The tournament usually attracts fans towards the end of the tournament but unsurprisingly Charlie drew huge crowds.
Hundreds of people walked behind Charlie on the fairway, including police officers.
In past tournaments, Charlie has been at the receiving end of some appalling behaviour by spectators.
When he tried to qualify for his first PGA Tour event earlier in the year, some fans reportedly ignored requests from tournament officials to give him more space on the fairways.
One woman revealed she pulled her granddaughter out of school so she could meet the golfer.
Another demanded he signed a copy of his father’s book.
Charlie will soon begin his sophomore year of high school in Florida.
His father was 14 when he qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur and is the only player to have won it three times in a row.
Tiger Woods shocks golf fans
After Tiger Woods missed the cut at the 2024 Open at Royal Troon, he quickly got in his private jet so he could get back to the US to watch his son.
He joined his son as he played his practice round.
And he was also pictured for the first time not wearing a protective sleeve on his right leg.
Tiger was involved in a near-fatal car crash in February 2021.
The horrifying scar makes his comeback all the more remarkable.
Tiger Woods’ scar
Tiger Woods plays down retirement talk
Once again Tiger struggled in a major championship last week by the Scottish coast.
In fairness, he endured the less favourable conditions as he was part of the early-late wave at Royal Troon but over two rounds shot a 14-over 156 (79-77).
The cut was 6-over.
Despite the disappointment, he insisted that it was not his last Open.
He plans to return to the major in 12 months’ time at Royal Portrush.
But he won’t play a professional golf tournament anytime soon.
Tiger Woods
Tiger confirmed his next start will be at the father/son PNC Championship in December.
He plays the tournament annually with Charlie and described it as his ‘fifth major’.
Tiger also said he will play the Hero World Challenge.
He will spend the next few months practicing and hitting the gym harder than ever, he said.