Charlie Woods is under a lot of pressure right now, especially at a tournament his father once ruled. Tiger Woods didn’t just compete at the U.S. Junior Amateur; he redefined it. From 1991 to 1993, Tiger won the championship three years in a row, becoming the youngest winner in history at age 15 and setting a new standard for junior dominance. He followed those victories with three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles, a stretch of amateur golf unmatched in modern history. So, the U.S. Junior wasn’t just part of his rise; it was the launchpad.

Charlie, meanwhile, has yet to find a stable footing in the same environment where his father once thrived. Competing in the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, the 16-year-old shot an 11-over 81 in the opening round at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas, leaving him tied for 242nd out of a 264-player field. Wearing a Benjamin School golf team hat, the rising junior from Florida struggled early, carding bogey or worse on six of his first eight holes.

Tiger Woods was on-site to cheer him on, walking the course and drawing a gallery that far outnumbered most others, with fans and police surrounding him throughout the round. With the projected cut line sitting at 2-over, Charlie now faces long odds to advance to match play as he prepares to tee off his second round Tuesday morning at Trinity Forest.

The tournament features two rounds of stroke play across Brook Hollow and Trinity Forest, after which the top 64 players will advance to championship match play. Trinity Forest will then host the remainder of the event, with the final match scheduled for July 26. As of now, California’s Kailer Stone and China’s Qiyou Wu sit atop the leaderboard at 5-under. For Charlie, a strong round is needed to climb back into contention, but with the field already separating, the challenge ahead is steep.

This marks Charlie’s second straight early exit at the U.S. Junior. In 2024, he failed to make the cut at Oakland Hills in Michigan, falling short in his tournament debut. The comparisons to Tiger are unavoidable, but the gap between father and son, at least for now, remains wide. However, the GOAT knows that his son is made for greatness.

“He [Charlie] has gotten better,” said Tiger Woods months ago

Back in December 2024, Tiger Woods couldn’t hide his pride as he reflected on playing alongside his son Charlie at the PNC Championship. The duo delivered a thrilling performance, shooting a 15-under 57 in the final round to finish tied at 28-under with Team Langer. Charlie’s standout moment came when he made the first hole-in-one of his life, a shot that electrified the crowd and drew instant praise from his father.

“It’s one of the highlights we’ve ever had together,” Tiger said. “We were right there all weekend, and that moment was so special for both of us.” After the event, Tiger was quick to emphasize the progress Charlie had made. “He has gotten better at every facet of the game,” Woods said. “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.”

When it comes to this season’s feats, Junior Woods has been racking up some notable records and wins. His most notable success came in late May, when he captured his first American Junior Golf Association title at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in Florida. He closed with scores of 70–65–66 to finish at 15-under, winning by three shots against a field stacked with top-ranked juniors. The commanding final‑round 66 included eight birdies, signaling a jumper in form that even his father, Tiger, called a major confidence booster.

Before that breakthrough, Charlie’s best AJGA result this year was a T‑25 finish at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in March—solid, but hardly headline‑grab­ing. His rise from a mid‑600s AJGA ranking into the top 20 after the Team TaylorMade win illustrates just how quickly he’s improved

As Charlie now competes at the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur, he faces a steep challenge after a difficult opening round, but with one round still to play, the cut is still within reach. Can Charlie prove his father right this time? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!