Tiger's son Charlie Woods captures first junior crown
Charlie Woods tees off on the 14th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship golf tournament, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Charlie Woods, the 16-year-old son of 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, won his first American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) title on Wednesday, taking a three-stroke victory in Florida.
The younger Woods fired a six-under par 66 final round to capture the Team TaylorMade Invitational at Streamsong Resort Black course, finishing on 15-under 201.
It was the first victory in five AJGA starts for Charlie Woods, who fired eight birdies and two bogeys in the final round but closed with four consecutive pars to seal the triumph in the top US junior series.
A field of 71 included four of the nation's five top-ranked juniors and 60 of the top 100. Woods was 606th in AJGA rankings but is expected to leap into the top 15 after the win.
Charlie Woods would be able to have talks with college coaches next month even though he wouldn't be joining university teams before 2027 if then.
Woods was playing on a sponsor invitation in the event but will be exempt for AJGA invitationals the rest of this season.
Woods, who has won other age-group events, failed in an attempt to qualify for the US Open earlier this month.
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