After a disappointing showing at last week’s US Junior Amateur, Charlie Woods—the 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods—is already bouncing back in a big way.
This week, he’s turning heads at the Junior PGA Championships with a performance that’s reminding fans just how much of his dad’s spark he carries.
Back in the Game at Purdue
The Junior PGA Championships are taking place at Purdue University, and Charlie is up against some of the most talented young golfers in the country.
He kicked things off on Tuesday with a solid one-under-par 70, placing him 43rd out of a competitive 156-player field.
But by Wednesday, the teenager had found his groove—and then some.
A Stunning Second Round Surge
Charlie came out firing in round two, delivering a six-under round that catapulted him up the leaderboard into a tie for fourth place.
Sitting at seven-under overall, he’s now just six shots behind the leader, Lunden Esterline from Kansas.
The round included a total of nine birdies, a few stumbles with bogeys at holes 2, 16, and 17, but overall it was an electric showing at Indiana’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex.
Shades of His Father’s Legacy
Charlie’s second-round fireworks brought back memories of Tiger Woods’ dominance on the course.
Interestingly though, Tiger never actually won the Junior PGA Championship himself—he came close in 1990, finishing runner-up to Chris Couch from Fort Lauderdale.
That makes Charlie’s standout round all the more exciting for fans who’ve watched the Woods legacy unfold over the decades.
Bouncing Back From US Junior Amateur Disappointment
Just a week ago, Charlie’s journey at the US Junior Amateur in Dallas came to a frustrating end.
Despite his best efforts, he missed the cut after struggling on both days.
His first-round score of 11-over-par left him a lot of ground to make up.
He made a valiant attempt during the second round, playing even-par on the front nine. But a bogey on the 17th and a double bogey on the final hole left him with a 3-over 74—12 shots outside the cut line.
It was a tough pill to swallow, especially with his dad watching from the sidelines.
And it meant Charlie wouldn’t be following in Tiger’s footsteps this time—Tiger famously won the US Junior Amateur three times in a row between 1991 and 1993.
Showing Grit and Growth
Charlie’s strong start this week is a promising sign that he’s already learning how to handle setbacks and turn them into fuel.
His latest performance not only positions him well heading into the final rounds—it shows that he has the mental game, not just the swing, to keep climbing.
What’s Next for Charlie?
With two rounds to go, Charlie will be aiming to stay in contention and possibly grab the biggest win of his junior career so far.
No matter what happens, his ability to rebound from last week’s disappointment is already a major win in itself.
And if this week is any indication, the next generation of Woods may be just getting started.