Woods arrives under a cloud of questions. His recent form has raised eyebrows, and now he faces 156 fierce rivals eager to claim the spotlight.  The stage is set at Purdue’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, where 312 of the nation’s best junior golfers prepare to battle it out. The stakes are sky-high at the Junior PGA Championships. They were just as intense at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur. But Charlie Woods’ recent run there was far from impressive. It definitely raises some eyebrows about how he will perform this time around.

Charlie missed the cut at the U.S. Junior Amateur for the second year in a row. On day one, he shot an 81, which made it tough for him to finish in the top 64 out of 264 players. But on day two, Charlie was on his own. He played better, but not well enough to make it to the match-play rounds. The most amusing yet heartbreaking thing is that all this happened while Tiger Woods was watching his son play live, despite him physically not being present at the event. Tiger Woods himself won this very tournament three times when he was young. Talk about big shoes to fill.

Adding to the pressure, the Junior PGA Championship field is packed with some of the biggest names in junior golf. This week, the 2025 Junior PGA Championships have 312 players in total, 156 boys and 156 girls, competing on two courses at Purdue. Many past winners of this event have gone on to become well-known professional golfers. Some of the top players in this tournament include Luke Colton and Giuseppe Puebla for the boys, and Asterisk Talley, Yujie Liu, and Anna Fang for the girls. 

Among this year’s field are some of the strongest names in junior golf, which only raises the stakes for Charlie Woods. On the boys’ side, Luke Colton enters as ranked No. 25, carrying the experience of 30 events, 16 top-10 finishes, and three victories. Right behind him is rising star Giuseppe Puebla, a newcomer who’s already made waves in just eight events; he’s finished in the top 10 four times. With players like these in the mix, the challenge ahead for Charlie is as intense as it gets. He will have to dig deep, raise his game, and find a way to compete against the very best. But Charlie isn’t dwelling on the disappointment; he’s aiming to bounce back, a skill he’s no doubt learned from his dad.

Things might look rough for Charlie right now, but the picture isn’t as bleak as it seems. Earlier this season, he scored a major win at the AJGA’s Team TaylorMade Invitational at Streamsong Resort’s Black Course in Florida. This is one of the most prestigious events on the AJGA, the top junior golf tour in the country, and the field included big names like top-ranked junior Miles Russell. And here’s the twist: Luke Colton, who will also be in the Junior PGA field, was there too. Charlie beat him at that very event. If Charlie can block out the noise, stay locked in, and play to his strengths, there’s every chance he could flip the script once again. But being the son of golf’s legendary player, pressure often gets the best of Charlie. 

Being Tiger Woods’ Son Brings Its Own Challenges

Charlie Woods doesn’t just play golf; he plays under a spotlight. As Tiger Woods’ son, every swing comes with expectations he never asked for. Earlier this year at the Cognizant Classic pre-qualifier in Florida, his round turned chaotic. Fans ignored officials, shouted during his swings, walked alongside him, and even chased his ball into the bushes. One even tried to get him to sign a copy of Tiger’s book mid-round. Distracted and frustrated, Charlie shot 86 and failed to advance.

The constant spotlight makes it harder for him to stay locked in on his game, which is a disadvantage to him and works as an edge to other players in the field. Even Tiger himself admits things were very different when he was 16; there was no social media, no endless cameras, and far less noise.

Charlie is still carving his own path, but carrying the weight of a legendary surname isn’t easy. The expectations are heavy, and the spotlight is relentless. And yet, for someone his age, he continues to face it head-on.