Charlie woods is in a strong position to secure a spot on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. The 16-year-old, son of golf legend Tiger Woods, is currently tied for second place at the Junior PGA Championship.
Woods fired a 5-under 66 in the rain-delayed third round at the Ackerman-Allen course in West Lafayette, indiana, bringing his tournament total to 12-under 202.
The competition offers two automatic berths for the Junior Ryder Cup, which will pit the U.S.against team Europe from September 23-25 at Nassau Country Club and Bethpage Black in New York. A single captain’s pick is also available, though Woods, ranked 20th in the American Junior Golf Association standings, is not expected to be a primary candidate for it. This would be Woods’ first appearance in the event.
“It was so much fun,” Woods commented on his third round, as reported by the
Lafayette Journal & Courier
. “I had a pretty fun chip on 16,but I just enjoyed being out there,having fun and hopefully I have a good chance of winning tomorrow.” He expressed his desire to control his own fate with a strong performance on Friday.
Woods experienced a fluctuating round on Thursday,marked by three instances of consecutive birdies and a total of nine birdies. However, he also recorded four bogeys. “My round was pretty up and down, and it gave me a heart attack out there,” Woods admitted, according to the Journal & Courier. “But nine birdies is pretty good. A couple of three-putts, I made a few mistakes today but overall pretty solid round. Pretty good position going into tomorrow.”
A rising junior at the Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida, Woods achieved victory at the AJGA’s Team TaylorMade Invitational in May. He did not make the cut at the recent U.S. Junior Amateur and has not yet announced his college commitment.
Lunden Esterline of Andover, Kansas, a 2027 Auburn commit, currently leads the Junior PGA Championship at 19 under after posting a third-round 66. Pennson Badgett, a 2026 Tennessee commit from Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, is tied with Woods in second place.
Details from Field Level Media was used in this report.
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