Despite having arguably the best caddie one could ever wish for—his dad, no less—Charlie Woods fell short in his quest for victory, settling for a tie for 17th place in the recent Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship in the Boys 14-15 Division, November 4-6, Koasati Pines Golf Club, Kinder, LA.
While he secured a win at the Notah Begay III Junior Golf Last Chance Regional tournament with a clutch 15-foot putt, this week’s higher level of competition served as a reminder to the 14-year-old, son of a 15-time Major winner, that triumph isn’t guaranteed.
Following scores of 73 and 74 on Saturday and Sunday, Charlie rallied on the final day, carding a bogey-free round of 68 to move up the leaderboard at two-over-par.
Throughout the weekend, Charlie displayed a mix of birdies, pars, and occasional setbacks. However, Monday’s round was flawless until the late stages on the Koasati Pines course at Coushatta in Louisiana.
Starting with a birdie on the second hole, a 417-yard par 4, Charlie maintained 14 consecutive pars on the 7,054-yard layout. Yet, in the final two holes, where he had previously found success, Charlie capitalized, ending the week on a positive note.
Having already birdied the 306-yard par 4 on Saturday, Charlie managed a par on his next visit before rediscovering success with a birdie on the penultimate hole. A second birdie followed swiftly by a third on his most productive hole at Coushatta, the 527-yard par-5 18th, completed a superb hat-trick.
Charlie’s improved and powerful driving swing, showcased on social media, wowed fans, while his father, serving as his caddie, garnered attention. Tiger Woods, who underwent subtalar fusion surgery in April, walked and carried the bag for Charlie for four consecutive days, raising hopes of his imminent return.
With a spot available for Tiger in the Hero World Challenge later this month and a likely return at the PNC Championship alongside Charlie two weeks later, there’s optimism for Team Woods. Despite finishing T8th last year, their 2021 performance, highlighted by a closing 15-under-par round of 57 with 11 consecutive birdies, remains a memorable feat.
