Charlie Woods‘ performance at the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass offered glimpses of brilliance but ultimately reinforced lingering questions about his consistency under pressure.
The 16-year-old, son of Tiger Woods, electrified the tournament with a hole-in-one on the third hole during Sunday’s final round, his best score of the week, a 72 – a moment that briefly sparked hope for a comeback after a Friday 76 and Saturday 75.
However, subsequent mistakes, including a double bogey and a bogey, prevented him from contending and Charlie ultimately finished tied for 31st at seven-over par.
The victory went to Jacksonville Beach prodigy Miles Russell, who displayed remarkable composure to secure his second Junior Players Championship title as Russell posted nine-under par for the week, closing with a 70 in the final round.
The high school standout had previously made waves by making the cut at a Korn Ferry Tour event as a freshman, and his poised performance at TPC Sawgrass further cemented his status as one of golf’s rising stars.
Fortunately, Charlie has not been without recent success as he shows he has potential. For example, earlier in the 2025 season, he claimed his first AJGA win at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May, finishing 15-under par.
He built on that momentum with a top-10 finish at the Junior PGA Championship in July, securing a T9 placement. Yet, despite these accomplishments, the Junior Players Championship presented a unique challenge: TPC Sawgrass holds historical significance for the Woods family.
Tiger never missed a cut in 19 Players Championships, including victories in 2001 and 2013 and a second-place finish in 2000 and for Charlie, competing on the same stage added immense pressure and heightened expectations.
However, despite the struggles on the green, Russell praised Woods‘ showing by saying, “He’s been playing great. He’s doing everything really well,” offering appreciation of his peer’s talents.
Tiger Woods under pressure from Ernie Els
Yet, external pressures extend beyond junior tournaments. Tiger Woods himself faces scrutiny about his next steps on the PGA Tour Champions, as noted by multiple major champion Ernie Els.
Els encouraged Tiger to continue competing against former rivals, stating, “It doesn’t help him” to struggle in regular events, and urged him to leverage the senior tour as a means of regaining competitive form.
“I’ve said [to Woods], please come play,” Els told Golfweek. “He will get himself in golf shape.
You can ride a cart without any shame and if there was one guy that should be able to drive a cart, it’s him. And he can get his a– back in shape.
“‘Beat us again… if you can.'”
So with both Charlie and Tiger Woods looking to get their careers back on the right path, the question now becomes whether the youngster and the veteran can rise to the challenge put to them.
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