To be forced to fill your father’s shoes is indeed a difficult task! Especially when you are expected to do so at the age of fifteen. This is pretty much what has been happening with the legendary golfer’s son, Charlie Woods. Be it his attempt to qualify for his first PGA Tour event in February or his ongoing first USGA event.

Charlie Woods was accompanied by his father as he made his debut at the USGA Championship, which unsurprisingly garnered a lot of attention. Throughout the championship, Tiger Woods followed Charlie during his games, attracting a massive crowd along the way. To manage the situation, several bodyguards were present to keep Tiger Woods separated and safe from the public. For a teenager, handling such pressure could certainly be a rather uncomfortable task.

Charlie Woods qualified for his first USGA Championship after carding a 1-under 71 last month at Coral Springs. As he attempted to be a part of the leading 64 competitors who would advance to the knockout competition held at match play, he faced significant challenges. On Monday, he shot a disappointing 12-over 82 with a T242 finish.

Tiger Woods was still by his side, following him and carefully observing his strategy. As the word of Mr. T’s attendance spread around, an entire crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the 15-time major winner and the 15-year-old’s game. As reported by TWLegion on their official X (formerly Twitter), “Galleries have assembled in Michigan to watch the great Charlie Woods. Charlie is having a tough go at T243 thus far with 9 holes to play.”

At the Oakland Hills Country Club on Tuesday, Charlie Woods failed to make the cut and did not advance to the penultimate round. Carding four bogeys and three double bogeys, he landed himself with a score of 10-over-80 with a T240 finish.

Although the crowd was not the only reason for his struggle, it was pretty evident that it became a bit overwhelming for him to handle that much pressure for such a massive event.

The golf community feels sorry for Charlie Woods

Earlier, Charlie Woods stated that the two enjoy living in a world of their own. However, their ‘little world’ has expanded, as every move of the teenager undergoes criticism, not just on the course but even on social media. Taking this into consideration, some of them showed their empathy towards Charlie.

They left comments like, “This is kinda sad I think” and “The amount of pressure this kid is always going to have on him is insurmountable”. 

Well, the US Junior Amateur was not the first time that Charlie Woods was overwhelmed by such a huge crowd. Back in June, at the US Open, when the father-son duo were spotted practicing in Florida, as Junior Woods offered his 48-year-old father some tips for his swing, they were interrupted by a crowd.

To add to the expectations of the crowd, Charlie Woods has the added pressure of being the son of the greatest golfer of all time. Taking to this, people left comments like, “The kids not built for this type of pressure, unimaginable to have to follow in tiger’s footsteps”, and “I agree. Give the lad a break. I’m certain he feels enough pressure just being Tiger’s kid let alone having all those people following him.”

Although Tiger Woods might be struggling at the moment, there is no denying the fact that he once reigned over the world of golf and is still the GOAT.

He spent the highest number of weeks on the No. 1 spot for 683 consecutive weeks (June 15, 1997, to May 27, 2014). He has also won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship three times (1991-93) and Charlie Woods is expected to be able to surpass his father.

Charlie Woods teed off with Chase Kyes and Baylor freshman Davis Ovard. For them to be followed by Tiger Woods was a fan moment, but to see so many people closely witnessing each move was intriguing enough for the 18-year-olds. They too had mentioned struggling through it initially but, later on, got the hang of it.

However, the massive crowds interrupted the entire gameplay by walking in the middle of the course. This was what left the people all the more infuriated. Taking to this, one of them wrote, “Isn’t there a group on the tee waiting to hit, but they can’t because of those spectators in the fairway?”

The US Junior Amateur is a free-entry event and, hence, can be attended by as many people as the Oakland Hills Country Club can accommodate. This made the crowd all the bigger. Thus, one of the people on the internet suggested, “These events should be closed to the public.”

True love is selfless. And golf’s most loved father-son duo would agree. Despite having another missed-cut nightmare come true at Royal Troon, Tiger Woods’s determination to be present for his son goes undeterred. In a true act of selflessness, Father Woods has declared his plans to take a flight to the Detroit area. But why?

Well, the reason is Charlie Woods. The young prodigy is set to tee it up at the U.S. Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills from July 22 to July 27. This would be his USGA debut and a big milestone in his career. After all, a win at Oakland Hills will help Junior Woods come closer to achieving the glory his father has achieved.

While the 48-year-old could not fulfill his own dreams to add a sixteenth stripe to his Sun Day Red logo this season, he plans not to miss his son’s big day. This event was also the reason why Charlie was not present to coach his father at Royal Troon like he was at the Masters and the US Open.

One thing is certain: The 48-year-old will be there for his son, no matter what. It seems that the loving father plans to support his son and help him practice before the big day. After all, Woods takes his time with his 15-year-old seriously. This is also evident in his reaffirmation of his probable plans to partake in the PNC Championship in the months to come. As of now what is confined is his presence at the Hero World Challenge in December.

It seems the roles have finally reversed. Senior Woods will now get the time to play coach for his son. After all, Charlie has some big shoes to fill. With his father’s help and years of experience, the scary challenge might ease up. But there’s one more person who plays a major role in helping this young prodigy polish his game, and that’s his high school golf coach, Toby Harbeck. So what does he think of the week to come?

Toby Harbeck’s view on the father-son duo

Charlie’s golf coach is probably the best source to expand on the golfing relationship between this father-son duo. After years of watching the two together, Harbeck has a fair opinion on Senior Woods’s role as a father and role model.

Describing this different shade of the 48-year-old with his son, Harbeck said, “Getting to know Tiger a little bit last year like I did. He is very non-pressured with Charlie, if Charlie wants to learn how to do something or play better or whatever. He goes to dad and says, ‘Hey, you know, I want to do this or I want to do that,’ and then Tiger absolutely takes him under his wing, to help him become better. Tiger is not Tiger Woods. Tiger is ‘Dad’ and that’s the way we treat him when he’s out watching, he just wants to be a parent. Elin (Nordegren, Charlie’s mom) and Tiger have been a great support for Charlie.”

Appreciative of the Woods’s parenting style, Harbeck also thinks Charlie has got what it takes to win his USGA debut. In his opinion, “I think he’s got the capability to win it. The goal I’ve always set for my kids at the U.S. Junior and U.S. Amateur, if they can get there, is to get to the match play, so match play will probably (be) the top 64. If he hit the match play, that is a heck of an accomplishment. He’s got the capability to win it. I mean, Charlie can shoot low, he can shoot real low. If he gets it going, he can go low, he’s just got to stay away from making consecutive bogeys or doubles or a bogey and double or a bogey and a triple or something like that. He’ll be fine.”

While he is assured of the 15-year-old’s capabilities, the only problem he feels this youngster has to ward off is compounding mistakes. After all, he has Tiger Woods to look up to, who secured six consecutive USGA titles, with three U.S. Junior Am championships, and three straight wins in the U.S. Amateur as a youth. The tough challenge at the Oakland Hills historic course will put Charlie Woods to a never-seen-before test. Only time will tell how this young cub fares.

One thing is certain: The 48-year-old will be there for his son, no matter what. It seems that the loving father plans to support his son and help him practice before the big day. After all, Woods takes his time with his 15-year-old seriously. This is also evident in his reaffirmation of his probable plans to partake in the PNC Championship in the months to come. As of now what is confined is his presence at the Hero World Challenge in December.

It seems the roles have finally reversed. Senior Woods will now get the time to play coach for his son. After all, Charlie has some big shoes to fill. With his father’s help and years of experience, the scary challenge might ease up. But there’s one more person who plays a major role in helping this young prodigy polish his game, and that’s his high school golf coach, Toby Harbeck. So what does he think of the week to come?

Toby Harbeck’s view on the father-son duo

Charlie’s golf coach is probably the best source to expand on the golfing relationship between this father-son duo. After years of watching the two together, Harbeck has a fair opinion on Senior Woods’s role as a father and role model.

Describing this different shade of the 48-year-old with his son, Harbeck said, “Getting to know Tiger a little bit last year like I did. He is very non-pressured with Charlie, if Charlie wants to learn how to do something or play better or whatever. He goes to dad and says, ‘Hey, you know, I want to do this or I want to do that,’ and then Tiger absolutely takes him under his wing, to help him become better. Tiger is not Tiger Woods. Tiger is ‘Dad’ and that’s the way we treat him when he’s out watching, he just wants to be a parent. Elin (Nordegren, Charlie’s mom) and Tiger have been a great support for Charlie.”

Appreciative of the Woods’s parenting style, Harbeck also thinks Charlie has got what it takes to win his USGA debut. In his opinion, “I think he’s got the capability to win it. The goal I’ve always set for my kids at the U.S. Junior and U.S. Amateur, if they can get there, is to get to the match play, so match play will probably (be) the top 64. If he hit the match play, that is a heck of an accomplishment. He’s got the capability to win it. I mean, Charlie can shoot low, he can shoot real low. If he gets it going, he can go low, he’s just got to stay away from making consecutive bogeys or doubles or a bogey and double or a bogey and a triple or something like that. He’ll be fine.”

While he is assured of the 15-year-old’s capabilities, the only problem he feels this youngster has to ward off is compounding mistakes. After all, he has Tiger Woods to look up to, who secured six consecutive USGA titles, with three U.S. Junior Am championships, and three straight wins in the U.S. Amateur as a youth. The tough challenge at the Oakland Hills historic course will put Charlie Woods to a never-seen-before test. Only time will tell how this young cub fares.

Charlie Woods might have put his father in a tough spot. The teenager earned the medalist honor at the Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida, one of the 40 sites for the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier. Woods Jr. will travel to Oakland Hills on July 22, a day after the Open Championship ends on Royal Troon, on the other side of the pond.

His 15-time major winning pop, Tiger Woods, has confirmed that the Open Championship will be his last competitive outing this year. But Charlie’s qualification means Woods will likely miss the first day at Oakland Hills if he makes the cut at Royal Troon.

The 48-year-old has previously caddied for his son at the regional qualifier for the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship. Given a chance, no doubt, the 82-time PGA Tour winner would love to walk with his son again. The Hall of Famer was reportedly present during Charlie’s AJGA debut. Moreover, Oakland Hills is where Woods played his last U.S. Open as an amateur.

Although the nine-time USGA champion has yet to offer any public congratulations to his son, it might be unlikely that Tiger Woods would pull out from the Open Championship. It has been four years since the former world no. 1 played all four majors in a calendar year. On top of that, the U.S. Junior Amateur doesn’t allow the parents to caddie for their children.

But the tournament runs from July 22–27. The first two days feature 18-hole stroke play to determine the 64 qualifiers for the final match play. The final round of 36-hole match play is scheduled on July 27, after three days of eliminations on the South Course.

If Charlie Woods makes the cut his father can arrive at Oakland Hills a little late. And, even if the teenager misses it, Tiger Woods can be at Bloomfield Township on July 23. Regardless of his father’s presence, Charlie Woods is unlikely to be deprived of family support.

Charlie Woods might have his mom on his side 

Elin Nordegren is expected to check in at Oakland Hills, regardless of whether her ex-husband accompanies her or not. Nordegren, who divorced Woods but maintained a steady friendship, stood as a pillar behind Charlie Woods at Cognizant Classic Pre-qualifier.

Woods Jr.’s PGA Tour bid ended in a disaster, but Nordegren kept his son from the outpouring of spectators eager to get close to the 15-year-old. Tiger Woods was recovering from influenza at that time.

“They have mastered the art of co-parenting,” said Notah Begay III, a close friend of Woods. It’s evident time and again. The Norwegian was at Charlie Woods’s Benjamin school ceremony, where the teenager received the State Championship ring. During Woods’s near-fatal car accident, Nordegren was also spotted taking their son and daughter, Sam Woods, to soccer practice.

In nearly a month, the U.S. Junior Amateur will begin to crown its 76th champion. This time the player’s field will have known faces like Miles Russell, who made history on the Korn Ferry Tour; Charlie Woods, who recently qualified through open qualifying and will be playing his first USGA event; last year’s runner-up Joshua Bai, and many others.

Since last year, the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur has reduced the field size from 312 to 264 in a bid to increase competition among the juniors and provide a spectacular week for the spectators. When will the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur start, and where will it be held?

This year’s U.S. Junior Amateur will be held at the Donald Ross-designed Oak Hills Country Club at Bloomfield Hills in Michigan. Oak Hills CC has been a fixture on the USGA for decades now. It has been a venue for six U.S. Opens, and the U.S. Amateur played in 2016. Moreover, Oak Hills was also the course where Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were paired at the 2004 Ryder Cup.

Being a historical golf venue, the Oak Hills would give amateur players a run for their game. But when will the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur start? The event is scheduled to begin on July 22nd and conclude by the 27th. The first two days will be 18-hole stroke play at the North and South courses of Oak Hills. From the 264 players’ field, only the top 64 will make it to the match play part of the event; in case of ties, playoffs will be held to cut down the field to only 64.

On July 24th and 25th, rounds of 64, 32, and 16 will be played in a match-play format. Then, the quarterfinals and semifinals will be scheduled on Friday, July 26th. Following this, a 36-hole match between the last two standing will be played at the South Course of Oak Hills on July 27th and a winner will be crowned at the 18th green near the infamous clubhouse.

The 42 qualifying events for the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur will soon be concluded on June 24th and the 264 fields will be confirmed. The amateurs under 19 will have many things at stake if they win the U.S. Junior Amateur, which will be a huge boost for their illustrious career.

What the U.S. Junior Amateur winner receives

The USGA does not grant the U.S. Junior Amateur winner any paycheck, however, the winner does receive a shining gold medal for his exceptional gameplay. Additionally, the champion will get the custody of the U.S. Junior Amateur’s trophy for one year. The winner will also receive an exception into the 2025 U.S. Open played at Oakmont Country Club if he has remained an amateur.

Other than this, the champion of the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur will be exempted from playing all the future U.S. Junior Amateur without having to go through a qualifying event until he turns professional. And an exemption into all the USGA-sanctioned U.S. Amateur Championships held in 2024 and 2025.

Who will be this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur winner from the 264 players field, will it be three-time U.S. Junior Amateur winner’s son Charlie Woods? It remains to be seen.

Tiger Woods is back at the driving range with his trusted ‘swing coach.’ Not Butch Harmon, but Charlie Woods, his 15-year-old son. Lately, the 15-time major champion has put a lot of trust in his son for some input about his swing. At the U.S. Open, the father-son duo was spotted practicing on the range, with Charlie offering some tips to his 48-year-old father.

Charlie Woods has previously said they live in their own little world. Whereas, talking about his son, the 82-time PGA Tour winner said from Pinehurst, “I trust him with my swing and my game. He’s seen it more than anybody else in the world. He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone. I tell him what to look for, especially with putting.”

Although it didn’t produce the intended result–Woods missed the cut—they are back on the range at Florida. In a picture posted by TWLegion on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Woods can be seen standing by his, as the 15-year-old hits balls.

But their ‘own little world’ has obviously got expanded. The teenager’s every move has been put under scanner on social media. When the recent snippets from the practice session went viral, fans made some interesting remarks. From concerns about teenager’s school lives to Woods’s future, netizens offered their verdicts.

Tiger Woods has previously said that he would play only in the Open Championship this season. The veteran said the risk is it might take too much time for him to recover from a four-day grind on the course. At the same time, since he doesn’t get to play much often, his form in the majors has hit the skid.

It’s a paradoxical situation, and some believe this way fans will never see the Tiger Woods they want to see. One tweeted, “Unless he plays more tournaments just getting some balls in range isn’t going to help his issues much.” However, some Tiger Woods fans believe it’s only a matter of time before the 15-time major champion is back to his old self. They found optimism despite his poor show in the majors. “He will figure this out. Just watch,” one of them claimed.

Not everyone is convinced. They pointed out that Charlie Woods seemed to be the one working on his game. Comments like “This isn’t grind. It’s jus Chilling wit d (the) kid” and “Please stop competing. It’s truly unwatchable,” showed the sentiment on the Internet. Another user sarcastically wrote, “Is the grind also just a ceremony now?

On the other hand, some fans were concerned about Charlie Woods’s education. The 15-time major champion during the 2022 PNC Championship said, that midterms ‘are more important than golf.’ Some fans feel, even now, that Woods Jr. should step back from the course and focus on their studies. “Charlie needs to stay in school. He is spending way too much time on the golf course lately!”

Tiger Woods emphasized that he still possesses the strength to lift another silverware. “Granted, my ball-striking and felt like my putting was good enough to be in contention, and I’m not,” the 48-year-old said after missing the cut at the U.S. Open. Tiger Woods will tee off at Royal Troon on July 18.

Tiger Woods is back at the driving range with his trusted ‘swing coach.’ Not Butch Harmon, but Charlie Woods, his 15-year-old son. Lately, the 15-time major champion has put a lot of trust in his son for some input about his swing. At the U.S. Open, the father-son duo was spotted practicing on the range, with Charlie offering some tips to his 48-year-old father.

Charlie Woods has previously said they live in their own little world. Whereas, talking about his son, the 82-time PGA Tour winner said from Pinehurst, “I trust him with my swing and my game. He’s seen it more than anybody else in the world. He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone. I tell him what to look for, especially with putting.”

Although it didn’t produce the intended result–Woods missed the cut—they are back on the range at Florida. In a picture posted by TWLegion on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Woods can be seen standing by his, as the 15-year-old hits balls.

But their ‘own little world’ has obviously got expanded. The teenager’s every move has been put under scanner on social media. When the recent snippets from the practice session went viral, fans made some interesting remarks. From concerns about teenager’s school lives to Woods’s future, netizens offered their verdicts.

Tiger Woods has previously said that he would play only in the Open Championship this season. The veteran said the risk is it might take too much time for him to recover from a four-day grind on the course. At the same time, since he doesn’t get to play much often, his form in the majors has hit the skid.

It’s a paradoxical situation, and some believe this way fans will never see the Tiger Woods they want to see. One tweeted, “Unless he plays more tournaments just getting some balls in range isn’t going to help his issues much.” However, some Tiger Woods fans believe it’s only a matter of time before the 15-time major champion is back to his old self. They found optimism despite his poor show in the majors. “He will figure this out. Just watch,” one of them claimed.

Not everyone is convinced. They pointed out that Charlie Woods seemed to be the one working on his game. Comments like “This isn’t grind. It’s jus Chilling wit d (the) kid” and “Please stop competing. It’s truly unwatchable,” showed the sentiment on the Internet. Another user sarcastically wrote, “Is the grind also just a ceremony now?

On the other hand, some fans were concerned about Charlie Woods’s education. The 15-time major champion during the 2022 PNC Championship said, that midterms ‘are more important than golf.’ Some fans feel, even now, that Woods Jr. should step back from the course and focus on their studies. “Charlie needs to stay in school. He is spending way too much time on the golf course lately!”

Tiger Woods emphasized that he still possesses the strength to lift another silverware. “Granted, my ball-striking and felt like my putting was good enough to be in contention, and I’m not,” the 48-year-old said after missing the cut at the U.S. Open. Tiger Woods will tee off at Royal Troon on July 18.

June 16, 2024, Sunday was Father’s Day. But golf fans would mark it as the day a crowd favorite Bryson DeChambeau pulled off a scintillating win over a talented field of golfers to win his second major at the U.S. Open. But even while doing that, he made sure to remember his late father and dedicate the victory to him.

While the ‘Scientist’ did honor his Dad on Father’s Day, he isn’t the only one to have experienced such a moment in the golf world. Our attention thus naturally comes to the various moments involving the love between a child and their parent. Enter Tiger Woods, Nelly Korda, and Robert MacIntyre among others!

Top Father-child moments in the golf world

1. The Woods moment, a Tiger-Charlie story: The two are, undoubtedly, one of the most famous parent-child duos in the golfing community. Ahead of the start of the recent major, the Woods pair were spotted at Pinehurst with Tiger Woods’s son, Charlie Woods, closely monitoring his father’s swing and gameplay all the while taking on the role of coach. “I trust him with my swing and my game,’’ admitted a proud Mr. T before adding, “He’s seen it more than anybody else in the world… We have a great relationship and rapport like that, and it’s a wonderful experience for both of us.”

That was but one of the many moments that spotted the legend and his son on the course together. The two have teed up together at the PNC Championship a total of four times with them finishing second once back in 2021 behind Team Daly. The 15-time major champ and his son, who was 12 at that time, set a tournament record by scoring 11 consecutive birdies helping them rake in $80,000. Come 2023, even his daughter Sam Woods became part of the event by caddying for her father. It truly was a special memory for the trio.

2. Bryson DeChambeau’s U.S. Open homage: “First off, I want to say happy Father’s Day to every father out there,” wished the excited and emotional LIV Golf Pro after winning his second major. He then went ahead to remember the late Jon DeChambeau, his father, and dedicated his victory to him; “Unfortunately my dad passed a couple years ago, and this one is for him.”

The triumph truly was one inspired by his father. The golfer divulged how his memories had helped push him through the rounds, especially at the last four holes which decided the result of the game. “Every time I got over the ball, Just focus,” added DeChambeau, “You’ve done this before. You can do it again. In the back of my mind, my dad pushing me. Payne [Stewart] was in the back of my mind, as well. I wanted to do it for them.” Lo and behold! He made the “shot of his life” on the 18th bunker and went ahead to card a par putt to clinch the trophy for a second time.

3. Nelly Korda and the Fatherly discipline: A total of six wins from nine starts in 2024. And the 25-year-old owes a major part of her success, if not all, to her father, Petr Korda. The golfer’s dad has been helping her out immensely on and off the course, “My dad still actually does my schedule to this day,” disclosed the athlete after her victory at Mizuho Americas Open, “Like he’s very, very involved with the scheduling of my entire year and how much time I have off and what I’m doing off the golf course.”

That’s not all. The 2-time major champ grouped up with her father to play at the PNC Championship for the first time in 2021. Although the two could only finish T12 at 17-under overall, one can only guess how special it was for them since they came back again in the subsequent years in 2022 and 2023 while finishing T5 and T13 respectively.

4. Robert MacIntyre’s caddie Dad: The community can’t possibly forget the Scottish pro clinching his first PGA Tour victory at the RBC Canadian Open. He finished the event with an amazing 16-under 264 while his father, Dougie MacIntyre, helped him on the bags. The golfer was extremely proud of achieving the feat alongside his Dad, the person who taught him golf when he was little.

Even MacIntyre Sr. was of the same opinion while expressing his disbelief. “I’m a grass-cutter. Not a caddie,” confessed the athlete’s Dad, “Honestly, it’s unbelievable. Last Saturday I thought, ‘Can I leave my job?’ 8 o’clock the next morning I’m on a flight here. Wow.” The looper was asked to help with the bags last minute after his son parted ways with his former caddies, Greg Milne, Scott Carmichael, and Mike Burrow. The result? A memory to remember for a lifetime.

5. Bernhard Langer’s PNC record: If we are talking about the PNC Championship, then it would be truly a disappointment to not talk about Langer and his sons. The senior pro was able to garner his fifth win at the tournament in 2023. The golfer claimed three of those alongside his son, Jason, while clinching the other two with his older son Stefan. He was, thus, able to equal Raymond Floyd’s record of five titles with a two-shot victory over David Duval’s team.

These are but some of the top moments between a father and his child that have caught the attention of the community throughout the years. There will surely be more such instances as time goes on, just like how Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler entered parenthood while welcoming their baby boys, Crew Sims Koepka and Bennett Scheffler respectively.

Tiger Woods would not have become the legendary golfer he is if not for Dr. Charles ‘Charlie’ Sifford. But who was Dr. Sifford? The North Carolina native was the first African American to break the “Caucasian only” policy of the PGA of America and was the first black golfer to play a PGA-sanctioned event in 1961. Being the first African American golfer, Woods had a special connection with Dr. Sifford.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the 82-time winner recalled how his father, Earl Woods, and Sifford had become close friends. Per their friendship, Earl Woods picked up golf and also trained his son in the game. Woods, honoring Sifford’s legacy, said, “It’s not an exaggeration to say that without Charlie,.. I may not be playing golf. My pop wouldn’t have likely picked up the sport, and I wouldn’t have either.”

Not only an inspiration for Woods, the Jackie Robinson of golf was also a grandfather of the 48-year-old that he never had. Because of the close relationship and Sifford’s contribution to golf, Woods named his son, Charlie Woods, in honor of Dr. Sifford and did not even tell the family. The son of Sifford, Charles Sifford Jr. told the Queen City News, “It was a great honor” that Woods named his child after his father.

Woods continues to contribute to the game of golf for people of different ethnicities, following in the footsteps of Dr. Sifford, who opened doors for all ethnicities after breaking into the PGA of America. Woods has been carrying his legacy forward. What kind of bond did the 48-year-old share with Dr. Sifford before his demise in 2015?

Tiger Woods and Dr. Sifford’s relationship

As mentioned earlier, Tiger Woods’s father and Dr. Sifford were good friends. Therefore, during his formative years, young Woods drew inspiration from Dr. Sifford, who began his career as a caddie. And although Woods at the start was not a friend of Sifford, he slowly came to be. Even after the death of Earl Woods in 2006, the two stayed close.

Dr. Sifford’s son, Sifford Jr. remembered the relationship between Dr. Sifford and Woods. He stated, “They would call each other and talk, and (Tiger) would send emails and text messages, have him in his locker. You know, when he was leading the tournament (my dad) would say go out there and get that trophy and get that cash.” Woods and Sifford’s passion for golf kept them closely connected throughout the years.

While one paved the way for a more inclusive golf landscape in America, the other is continuously growing the game with his TGR Foundation and helping the youth succeed in it. Who knows, after many years, someone might name their child after Tiger Woods for all the great things he has done for the game of golf.

Florida High School Athletic Association came up with a drastic change that could impact Charlie Woods’s future. The FHSAA has allowed student-athletes to sign Name, Image, and Likeness deals with brands for which they can earn money. The board has also approved high school athletes to hire agents, but only for NIL purposes.

Charlie Woods has already attracted a lot of eyeballs because of the uncanny similarity with his father’s mannerisms. With Tiger Woods, the teenager also teed off in the PNC Championship four times in a row. So, it will hardly be surprising if the Woods family gets snowed under the flurry of NIL deals coming his way. Will he sign any NIL deals, though? Or has he already? Here is what teenage Woods’s Benjamin High School coach thinks.

There were rumors of Greyson moving in as the first sponsor after Woods Jr. sported the wolf emblem in this year’s PNC Championship. Moreover, Greyson reshared a story on the Instagram handle, welcoming Charlie Woods to the fold. Coupled with Tiger Woods’s break-up with Nike, it was read as an inevitable sign that the 15-year-old might be signing a NIL deal soon.

However, that post has since been deleted. And, in the last seven months, Charlie Woods has sported different brands. His high-school coach, Toby Harbeck told Palm Beach Sports, “I’m sure someone’s going to approach him with [NIL] … but they’re so smart and they’ve got such good people around them that I think the only thing we need to be careful of is making sure we’re all aware of what’s going on − and that deals with all kids.”

Harbeck revealed that the Woods family likes to live in their ‘own little world’ as Charlie Woods said during the PNC Championship. Since the announcement, Barbeck hasn’t spoken with his most famous ‘student’. Neither has he got the chance to talk to Tiger Woods.

Barbeck revealed, “They’re very protective as far as letting anyone get a word in about anything.” That’s not surprising from a man who named his yacht, ‘Privacy.’ Regardless, Harbeck would be ‘shocked’ if the 15-time major champion allowed his son to sign a NIL deal.

Toby Harbeck asks what is it that Charlie Woods lacks. At 15, he is the center of media attention whenever he steps on the greens. His achievements, be they personal or in school, are well documented.

Fans have flocked around the 15-year-old, almost to the point of disrupting the tournament when Woods Jr. attempted to earn a spot in the Monday qualifier of the Cognizant Classic. The teenager’s U.S. Open bid also received equal, if not more attention. Harbeck said, “He doesn’t need the fame. He’s got that. He surely doesn’t need the money. So what’s the benefit of Charlie receiving NIL money? Is there one? I don’t know”

Notably, Miles Russell, perhaps the most famous 15-year-old not named Charlie Woods, has already signed a NIL deal with TaylorMade. The Jacksonville native also has an NIL deal with Transcend Capital. But for Charlie Woods to ink a similar deal, the world needs to wait a while.

Charlie Woods’s dreams of a PGA Tour debut were shattered, but someone else’s is getting accomplished! Fifteen-year-old golfer Miles Russell received a sponsor exemption to play in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. This will mark the young golfer’s PGA Tour debut. Notably, Russell is the youngest player in Korn Ferry Tour history to make a cut, achieving a 5-under 66 in April at the Lecom Suncoast Classic in Longwood, Florida, to qualify on the PGA Tour’s developmental circuit.

Russell will join the likes of Rickie Fowler, who is preparing to defend his Rocket Mortgage Classic title at the Detroit Golf Club, and other prominent golfers. With Russell’s status as the 2023 American Junior Golf Association Player of the Year, all eyes will undoubtedly be on him. It will be intriguing to see how this young talent performs alongside seasoned veterans, but meanwhile, he has garnered a lot of admiration from the golf community.

After the PGA Tour welcomed this 15-year-old prodigy, he expressed his excitement, stating, “Ever since I first started playing golf, my dream has been to compete on the PGA Tour and test my game against the best players.” His desire to play on Jay Monahan’s circuit has come true, and he shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming tournament, saying, “I’m looking forward to making the most of the experience later this month.” 

The tournament is scheduled from June 27 to June 30. NUCLRGOLF shared the good news on X, “JUST IN: 15-year-old high schooler Miles Russell is making his PGA TOUR debut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic after receiving a sponsor’s exemption.” Additionally, Russell’s passion for professional golf is further evident as he is also attempting to qualify for the US Open in Durham, NC. He opened the first round with 2 under 68. Let us see some of the things fans have to say about the young prodigy.

“Congratulations” were in order for the young star as people started appreciating him. The golf world also noted how “amazing” it is to achieve this feat at such an early age. Russell is currently ranked at number 1 in the Rolex AJGA rankings. He has played in 8 events on the AJGA circuit so far and has won two: the Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex and the Boy’s Junior PGA Championship, both in 2023.

Although his journey is just beginning, many also wished him good luck, with comments like “Let’s go! Good luck, Miles!” His best finish so far this year has been T6 at the 2024 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. With such a good score, he will definitely be able to go head-to-head with seasoned pros.

While many appreciated Russell’s accomplishment, some fans had different thoughts, particularly about Charlie Woods, with one commenting, “Charlie Woods in shambles seeing this.” Woods Jr. hoped to make his PGA Tour debut at the Cognizant Classic this year but failed to do so. He was unable to advance from the pre-qualifying event. He carded 16 over 86. Woods Jr. fell short not once but twice. He also aimed for the US Open in April, but unfortunately, he did not succeed.

Additionally, some believe that “it’s go time,” emphasizing that this might be the moment for the young prodigy to begin his journey. Earlier in 2024, Russell was the only amateur to advance to the final Monday Qualifier for the Puerto Rico Open but he unfortunately fell short in a playoff. He carded an incredible 5 under 67, but this time, he will finally be playing on the greens with Tour pros. Things certainly look promising, as he is already securing sponsorships from brands like TaylorMade.

TaylorMade signs Miles Russell to NIL agreement

Following his impressive performance at the Korn Ferry in April, TaylorMade announced an NIL agreement with reigning AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year Miles Russell, adding him to its esteemed roster of junior, collegiate, and professional golfers. As a result, the 15-year-old golfer now exclusively uses a full set of TaylorMade equipment, comprising the Qi10 LS driver, TP5x golf ball, and P·Series irons.

Talking about the deal, the 15-year-old said, “I have had a great relationship with the team at TaylorMade for years now and couldn’t be more excited to continue to work with them in the future. TaylorMade has a history of developing the top junior talent in the world to help reach their goals of becoming PGA TOUR and major championship winners. I am looking forward to working with the team to reach those and other goals I have laid out for my career.”

Renowned for its forgiveness and distance-enhancing features, the Qi10 LS driver could be the ideal choice for Russell, especially when paired with the precision and performance of the P·Series irons. With the attention of the world and the best gear in tow, Miles Russell looks poised to take the gold world by storm in the coming days.