Charlie Woods fell short of earning a spot on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team after finishing tied for ninth at the Junior PGA Championship. The 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods entered the final round at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, IN, with a strong performance but struggled on the last day of competition.
Woods shot back-to-back rounds of 66 in the second and third rounds, placing him tied for second and in contention for the prestigious qualifying spot. However, on Friday, he posted a final-round score of 74, which included three bogeys and a double bogey over his final 10 holes. This performance resulted in a total score of 9 under par for the tournament, leaving him 10 strokes behind the leader.
Lunden Esterline emerged as the dominant winner of the Junior PGA Championship, finishing with a remarkable score of 19 under par, including a stunning second-round 62. Esterline, who hails from Andover, KS, is committed to play for Auburn University in 2027.
In addition to Esterline’s victory, Giuseppe Puebla made a significant leap in the final round, shooting a 64 to tie for second place at 13 under par with Tyler Mawhinney, who finished with a score of 69. Puebla’s performance secured him the second automatic qualifying spot for the upcoming Junior Ryder Cup, which will take place from September 23 to 25, 2023, at Bethpage Black and Nassau Country Club.
Despite the challenging finish, Woods remains a promising young talent in golf. With one captain’s pick still available for the Junior Ryder Cup team, speculation about his inclusion will likely continue, although he is not expected to be selected.
As the tournament concluded, Woods’ journey highlighted both the pressure and competitive nature of junior golf. With an eye on the future, he will undoubtedly continue to work towards his goals in the sport, inspired by the legacy of his father.