Charlie Woods misses in Open qualifier
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Charlie Woods boasted recently how had achieved something his famous father, Tiger, never had … win a high school state championship.
On Thursday, Charlie was hoping to the take the first step toward more bragging rights in the Woods household … youngest to play in a major.
Charlie, though, had a rough start at the local qualifying event for the U.S. Open and never recovered, finishing with a 9-over-par 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Woods, 15, was one of 84 entries competing in the local event, with five advancing to 36-hole qualifying in June. Woods’ score was five shots better than his first attempt to qualify for a PGA Tour event. He shot an 86 in February at Lost Lake Golf Club in Hobe Sound in a prequalifying round for the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.
The odds are long for anyone attempting to qualify for the championship. According to the United States Golf Association, Woods was one of 10,084 entries looking to fill about 80 spots for the tournament that will be at Pinehurst in June. Sites in 44 states and Canada are conducting 109 local qualifiers through May 20.
Those who advance will play in one of 13 36-hole qualifying events in June, including June 3 at Bear’s Club in Jupiter.
Tiger, who lives on Jupiter Island but was not in attendance Thursday, was 19 when he competed in his first major, the 1995 Masters. Since then he has won15 majors, second only to Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major championships, including the U.S. Open in 2000, 2002 and 2008.
Charlie , who helped The Benjamin School win the 2023 state championship, had three double bogeys, four bogeys and a birdie Thursday. On the par-3 No. 5 he dropped a putt from about 15 feet, pumping his fists as the ball disappeared into the cup.
After starting with a bogey, Woods hit his second shot into the water on the par-5 second hole. After his drop, what saved him from back-to-back water balls was the seasonal drought when his third shot landed short of the green and rolled back toward the lake. It stopped about a foot before the water in the muddy edge.
After making the turn in 40, Woods had a rough stretch from the 11th to the 16th hole, going 5-over. He appeared especially frustrated after his second shot on No. 14 sailed left of the green, Charlie then turned to his caddie, Benjamin teammate Luke Wise, and said something about the “worst golf.”
He hit 9 of 14 fairways but just 8 of 18 greens in regulation.
Woods’ next qualifying rounds will be for the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship and the 2024 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship, both this summer.