After three failed U.S. Open qualifying bids, the 17-year-old turned disappointment into duty — caddying for top-ranked junior Miles Russell on the sport’s most grueling qualifying day.
For three consecutive years, Charlie Woods has chased a dream that keeps slipping away. His latest attempt, on April 28 at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Fla., ended with an even-par 72 — one shot short of the final qualifying stage for the U.S. Open. Rather than step back, the 17-year-old son of Tiger Woods chose to stay in the fight the only way he could: by strapping on a caddie bib for a rival.
On Monday, Woods walked 36 holes at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., carrying the bag for Miles Russell — the No. 1-ranked junior golfer in the country and, as of next season, his future Florida State teammate.
Charlie’s Qualifying Heartbreak, Hole by Hole
Woods opened with a bogey at Eagle Trace before finding his footing. A birdie at the par-4 sixth returned him to even, but a double bogey on the par-3 seventh was too costly to absorb. He rallied on the back nine with birdies at the 10th and 12th, then gave one back two holes later. A birdie at 15 kept hope alive, but three closing pars sealed a 10th-place finish — one agonizing shot shy of advancing.
His previous two bids weren’t kind either. In 2024, he shot 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club. The following year, a 75 at Wellington National Golf Club left him seven strokes off the mark.
A Season of Near Misses and Small Wins
The miss fits a 2026 season that has been steady but unremarkable. His best finish remains a tie for 19th at the Junior Orange Bowl International in January, followed by results outside the top 35 at the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship, the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, and the Terracotta Invitational. At Sage Valley — the same course where Russell steamrolled the field by 41 shots to win the gold jacket — Woods finished last. He still went on Instagram to congratulate his future teammate. One month later, he qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur for the third time, shooting a 3-under 68 and winning a playoff at Heathrow Country Club.
Russell Carries the Weight of History
While Woods carried the bag, Russell carried the weight of history. The AJGA’s top-ranked junior entered the day as one of the most-watched players in the field, alongside Matthieu Pavon, Kevin Tway, Luke Clanton and Matt Kuchar. In the first round, Russell shot a 71 — steady, efficient, and exactly the kind of performance that has made him impossible to ignore. He is already the youngest player to make a Korn Ferry Tour cut and the youngest AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year, having broken the record previously held by Tiger Woods. A U.S. Open start would be the next line on a growing résumé.
Two Rivals Who Refuse to Act Like It
The arrangement is unusual enough to raise eyebrows. In a sport built on competitive discretion, caddying for a direct rival doesn’t happen often. But Woods showed up without hesitation, and Russell trusted him to be there — a detail that says more about their dynamic than any scorecard could.
The two have history. They competed at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley earlier this year, were spotted practicing together in February, and are both committed to Florida State’s program for the 2027 season. Coach Trey Jones has quietly assembled one of the stronger junior recruiting classes in the country, and these two are at the center of it.
Charlie Woods Turns One Bad Morning Into a Lesson
Whether Russell books his trip to Shinnecock Hills or not, what Woods did Monday stands on its own. A teenager who fell one stroke short of his dream didn’t go home. He picked up a bag and kept walking — studying the game from a different angle, staying close to the best, and finding a way to make something useful out of a painful morning. His U.S. Open bid isn’t over. It’s just being filed away for next year.
Source: ESSENTIALLYSPORTS