Disappointing Finish: C. Woods Fades at Junior PGA and Loses Chance for Ryder Cup Spot

Charlie Woods, the 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods, finished the final round of the Junior PGA Championship with a score of 3-over 74. This performance wasn’t enough to secure a spot on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team.

On the last day of competition, Charlie started tied for second, boasting a solid three-day total of 12-under par at the Ackerman-Allen Course in West Lafayette, Indiana. However, his game didn’t shine in the final round. He began strong but struggled later, making a bogey on the 14th hole and followed it with a double bogey on the 15th. Ultimately, he ended up tied for ninth at 9 under.

The event’s winner was Lunden Esterline, a 2027 Auburn commit from Kansas, who soared to victory at 19 under. He, along with Giuseppe Puebla, who finished at 13 under, earned the two automatic spots on the Junior Ryder Cup team.

The U.S. team will face Team Europe from September 23-25 at Nassau Country Club and Bethpage Black in New York. While Charlie is still eligible as a possible captain’s pick next week, being ranked 20th in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) standings makes this option less likely. He hasn’t played in the Junior Ryder Cup before.

Recently, golf has seen a surge in youth participation. According to the National Golf Foundation, the number of young players aged 6-17 increased by over 25% from 2020 to 2023. This growth shows a bright future for the sport, with more young talents stepping up, just like Charlie.

In addition to the boys’ competition, Asterisk Talley claimed the girls’ Junior PGA title, winning by just one shot over Zoe Cusack.

As young golfers continue to make their mark, it will be exciting to see how they develop in the coming years.



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