Charlie Woods, the 15-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods, faced disappointmen not in a PGA Tour pre-qualifier on Thursday, marked by a challenging performance on a par-4 hole, numerous double bogeys, and peculiar behavior from fans accused of overwhelming the teenager during his round. Attempting to qualify for his inaugural PGA Tour event, the Cognizant Classic in Florida, Woods posted a 16-over 86 score, falling short of the mark. Despite his own security detail, Woods encountered concerning treatment on the course. Reports from the Palm Beach Post detailed fans chasing after out-of-bounds balls hit by Woods for keepsakes, spectators closely shadowing him despite officials’ efforts to maintain distance, and one fan even requesting an autograph on a copy of “How I Play Golf” by Tiger Woods. Accompanied by friend and caddie J.J. Kutner and Olin Browne Jr., a mini-tour professional and son of Olin Browne, Woods navigated his first PGA Tour pre-qualifier. These events are reserved for players with a 2 handicap or better, whereas Woods boasts a +3 handicap index with the Florida State Golf Association, per PGA records. While Woods has participated in tournaments like the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship alongside his father and competed in the PNC Championships over the past four years, Team Woods has yet to secure victory, placing second in 2021. Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings position Charlie Woods at No. 1,301, with current participation in the South Florida Section Junior Tour.
