As Masters week at Augusta National kicked off, Tiger Woods said, “If everything comes together, I think I can get one more.” Heading into the weekend after carding an even-par 72, he made history in the process. As Woods had hoped, everything seemed to be coming together for him. And if that wasn’t enough, in his bid for a sixth Masters title, Woods reportedly got another reason to be more hopeful: Charlie Woods touched down in Georgia for the first time since 2022!

After choosing to stay home instead of playing a round of golf in Augusta before the Masters, it seems like Charlie Woods has finally returned to where he first realized just how deep-rooted the Woods name was in golf. Back in 2019, after a series of injuries and surgeries, Tiger Woods returned to ANGC, hoping to win his 15th major. And against all odds, he did. The best part? He had his children, Sam and Charlie, right there with him.

As the five-time Green Jacket winner continues his bid for major glory once more, Adam Stanley of SportsNet tweeted a few Saturday morning observations at Augusta. Apart from calling Woods’ short game “still unreal” and acknowledging his aura, one thing that caught everyone’s attention was: “Charlie Woods is here.” On April 14, 2019, the 15-year-old watched his father win his 15th major. And this April, he may not have been there for the Friday round, but Tiger made a record 24th straight cut at the Masters.

Interestingly, Woods has never missed the cut at Augusta since becoming a professional in August 1996. However, in the past 28 years, he has missed the tournament a few times (2014, 2016, 2017, and 2021), all owing to injuries, mostly concerning his back. Despite missing those four years, Woods is tied for seventh in the overall standings for cuts made at the Masters, recording his 25th in 2024 (tied with Ben Crenshaw). Ahead of him are Raymond Floyd, Bernhard Langer, and Phil Mickelson (all tied for 27), Gary Player (30), Fred Couples (31), and Jack Niklaus (37).

Fun fact: 17 players in today’s field were not even born the last time he didn’t make the cut (in 1996). The ones currently in the top 20 include: –

• Scottie Scheffler (June 1996)
• Collin Morikawa (February 1997)
• Ludvig Åberg (October 1999)
• Nicolai Højgaard (March 2001)
• Cameron Young (May 1997)

For the five-time Masters champion, though, the 24th cut doesn’t mean anything more than an opportunity to needle his dad-on-course, Fred Couples. Eyes firmly set on the silver replica of Augusta Clubhouse, Tiger Woods said he still hopes to be in contention on Sunday. “It means I have a chance going into the weekend. I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament. I’m only eight back as of right now. I don’t think anyone is going to run off and hide right now, but it’s really bunched.”

Undoubtedly, the five-time Masters champion is in much better shape than he was at the Genesis Invitational. Tiger Woods is seventh in Strokes Gained: Around the Greens as of now. The veteran golfer gained 0.97 shots per round compared to the field. To top that, the 48-year-old has been crushing 300-yard drives as well. 

Moreover, Woods has reached 21 of 40 greens in regulation as of early Saturday. Yesterday, the 48-year-old was the second-best player in the field in strokes gained around the greens and ninth-best in SG: total. Is another famous hug in the offing? Tiger Woods is certainly a believer. 

Update: Round 3 at the Augusta National didn’t go Tiger Woods’ way. As his 99th round at the Masters progressed, the 48-year-old lost all the momentum he’d built in the first two days. Woods posted a 10-over 82, marking his career-worst round at Augusta National by 4 shots. He walked out of the course, tied for 52nd place at 11 over for the tournament. For his 100th round at the Masters, he’s paired up with 23-year-old Neal Shipley, the only amateur to make the cut among the six who entered.

While Woods’ bid for a sixth Green Jacket might have drastically gone off course, there’s no doubt that Charlie’s presence will strengthen his hopes to try and play his way back into contention. But the opportunity to have him there, though, could’ve come earlier.

Tiger Woods asked Charlie to come to Augusta earlier; he didn’t

Woods and Charlie played together at the 2023 PNC Championship. And when it comes to Augusta, they played together in 2022. In the build-up to the 2024 Masters, the veteran Woods wanted to bring his son to ANGC last week. The 15-time major champion came to scout the greens and played a few practice rounds with Justin Thomas and the chairman, Fred Ridley. But considering the good time the father-son duo had in 2022, playing with Thomas, Tiger asked his 15-year-old if he’d like to accompany him this year, too.

However, Charlie declined. In the Masters press conference, Woods revealed, “[Charlie and I] haven’t played in a couple years now. I came up here last weekend. He wanted to be at home. So I came up here and got a chance to play with the chairman, Rob, and JT, and we had just an absolute blast.” 

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But Woods admitted that if Charlie came here some other day—perhaps next year—he had to play at the same tee as his father and colleagues. No membership tee privileges for the youngster now that he hits past his 15-time major Champion pop.