At simply 16 years previous, the son of golf legend Tiger Woods had lately captured his first main nationwide event win, turning heads and fueling chatter that he is likely to be following intently in his father’s footsteps. However on Monday on theU.S. Junior Amateur Championshipin Dallas, that narrative hit a bump within the highway.
Woods posted an 11-over-par 81 in his opening spherical at Brook Hole Golf Membership, touchdown him in a tie for 241st out of 264 gamers. It was a rating that shocked many-not simply due to the quantity, however due to the way it got here collectively.
Scottie Scheffler and his son gave us the cutest second within the Open Championship
A Story of Two Nines
Issues did not begin off catastrophically. Charlie opened with a bogey on the primary and a double bogey on the third, however he discovered a groove with 4 straight pars. After a bogey on eight, he bounced again with a assured birdie on the ninth to complete the entrance 9 at 3-over 38.
It was the type of restoration that recommended he would possibly regular the ship. However then got here the again 9.
Bogeys on 10 and 11 had been adopted by a messy double on 13. He could not cease the bleeding, including extra bogeys on 15 and 16, then one other double on 17. Although he capped the spherical with a birdie on 18, the harm had already piled up.
This wasn’t only a robust round-it was a reminder.
Charlie’s Journey is Nonetheless Simply Starting
Comparisons to Tiger, who gained this identical occasion 3 times within the early ’90s, are tempting-but most likely not helpful proper now. Charlie’s current win on the Staff TaylorMade Invitational (an occasion the place present U.S. Junior chief Tyler Watts completed fifth) confirmed his potential. However stress, particularly at this degree, is its personal problem.
“He is rising. That is a part of the method,” stated one junior coach acquainted with Woods’ sport. “One dangerous day would not erase expertise.”
Tyler Watts, who carded a clean 5-under in his opening spherical, presently tops the leaderboard. His efficiency gives a distinction, however not a verdict.
Charlie Woods is not Tiger. And that is okay. What he’s, is a younger golfer nonetheless figuring it out-under a highlight most gamers his age will by no means really feel. Let’s give him the room to do exactly that.
