Charlie Woods faced a tense moment at the 62nd Junior Orange Bowl when his tee shot bounced off a tree root, nearly striking him in the face.
The crowd gasped, and Tiger Woods couldn’t hide his admiration.
The incident occurred on the 11th hole at Biltmore Golf Course. Charlie’s tee shot had gone far right, landing near a hard root.
Most players would play it safe, but he chose a bold line toward the green.
“Hell of a shot,” Tiger muttered after his son recovered. Charlie, undeterred, executed a precise wedge shot and sank a long putt for par, showing composure reminiscent of his father’s poise under pressure.
Despite the scare, Woods Jr. finished the first round with a two-over-par 73. He started strong with two birdies but later made bogeys on the seventh, eighth, and par-3 14th holes, leaving room to climb in the standings over the remaining rounds.
The Junior Orange Bowl features four rounds with no cut, giving Charlie three more opportunities to contend.
Currently ranked 13th on the Rolex AJGA list, he had a breakthrough 2025 season that included a tie for 9th at the Junior PGA Championship.
Last year, he also led The Benjamin School to the FHSAA Class 1A state title, firing a 4-under 68 in the final round. With that track record, expectations are high as he looks to add an Orange Bowl title to his achievements.
His father Tiger previously dominated the event. In 1991, young Woods won by 14 strokes, the largest margin in the tournament’s 62-year history.
He returned in later years but narrowly missed a second title to Zimbabwe’s Lewis Chitengwa.
Charlie faces stiff competition this year, including Cameron Kuchar, son of PNC Championship winner Matt Kuchar.
International talents such as Giovanni Daniele, who opened with a 62, and Nina Choe also pose strong challenges for the trophy.
Tiger Woods opens up on golf comeback after surgery
Woods, recovering from his seventh back surgery since 2014, is contemplating a return to competitive golf. His October procedure followed an earlier 2025 Achilles tendon surgery, further delaying his schedule.
Woods shared updates during a Hero World Challenge press conference, noting rotational exercises are being added to his rehab. He hopes to assess his readiness for both the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions events next year.
The 50-year-old also joked about playing 25 events across both tours, though admitted this was optimistic. At minimum, he expects to miss the start of the TGL season, potentially returning near the league’s second season in March.
“I just started this process,” Woods said. “A disc replacement takes time. It’s longer – it’s not as long as a fusion, thank God, but it’s going to take time.
“I’m just looking forward to just let me get back to playing again, let me do that and then I’ll kind of figure out what the schedule is going to be.”
Woods has not played since The Open Championship in July and only made one cut this season at The Masters. His competitive appearances have been limited, with a maximum of seven events per year since 2019.
Charlie’s performance, by contrast, highlights a new generation of Woods rising amid challenges. Tiger’s pride is evident as his son navigates high-pressure situations with confidence and skill, a potential sign of greatness ahead.
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