Charlie Woods missed out on US Open qualifying earlier this month for the second time, and his response in the first round of the Team TaylorMade Invitational says it all about the young star
Charlie Woods, the son of golfing legend Tiger Woods, has bounced back in style after failing to qualify for the US Open earlier this month. The 16-year-old missed out on local qualifying for the upcoming tournament for the second year running.
However, he’s put his disappointment behind him by turning in a solid performance in the first round of the Team TaylorMade Invitational on Monday. Woods’ rollercoaster round included an eagle, eight birdies, five bogeys, a triple bogey and just three pars, all on par three holes.
He now sits tied for fourteenth in a field of 72 players and just three shots off the lead at the invitational-only event, held at the Streamsong Resort’s Black Course in Bowling Green, Florida. Charlie’s impressive performance so far shows that he has the mental fortitude to not let his US Open setback hinder his ambitions, despite the immense pressure on his young shoulders.
Charlie was one of a record 10,202 entries for the US Open. Although he didn’t make the cut, he did improve on last year’s score in 18-hole local qualifying, posting a three-over 75 at Wellington Golf Club on May 8, reports the Mirror US.
This left him seven shots short of advancing to the 36-hole final stage, whereas a year ago, he shot 81 in the local US Open qualifier.
Woods Jr’s failure to make the prestigious major will be quite a burden for the young golfer to carry, considering his father’s stunning success and almost mythical status in the game.
Tiger can count three US Open titles among his 15 professional majors. He also never had to undergo the first stage of local qualifying.
According to the USGA, Woods was even exempt from the local qualifying in 1992 through 1994, reportedly due to his US Junior Amateur titles. He eventually played his first US Open in 1995 at 20 years old, but didn’t win the tournament until 2000.
This year’s event gets underway on June 12 at Oakmont, with Woods Sr not playing as he recovers from a ruptured achilles tendon.
In December of last year, the 49-year-old icon praised his son’s improvement on the course but called for fans to exercise patience.
“He has gotten better at every facet of the game,” Tiger said during the PNC Championship, where he partnered with Charlie. “I know he’s been doing this in front of the media for a long time, but I think it’s incredible what he’s been able to accomplish so far, and the ceiling that he has is unlimited.”
Meanwhile, Tyler Watts from Huntsville, Alabama, and Luke Colton of Texas are leading the pack at the Team TaylorMade Invitational, both carding a five-under 67.
Both Watts and Colton are among the top 10 junior boys golfers in the AJGA rankings, while Woods is currently ranked at No. 604. The tournament’s second round will tee off on Tuesday, with the final round scheduled for Wednesday.