Charlie Woods’ golf rise as he mirrors iconic dad Tiger ahead of PNC Championship

With the name ‘Woods’ the great Tiger’s son Charlie was always going to be tipped for success, and the 14-year-old has more than lived up to the billing after breaking onto the scene at the PNC Championship

Being the child of arguably the greatest golfer to ever play the game was always going to come with plenty of pressure, but 14-year-old son of Tiger Woods, Charlie, has more than lived up to the billing.

There is not a more recognisable name than Tiger’s in the game of golf. With 82 PGA Tpour titles, 15 major championships and a whole host of records, Woods has taken the game to new heights over the past 25 years.

Inevitably though, when the golfing great welcomed his first son Charlie into the world the question on everybody’s lips was ‘is this the next Tiger Woods?’ Quite rightly, Woods has kept the progress of his son private for the majority of life, keeping any pressures that predictably landed off the 14-year-old’s shoulders.

It has only been in the last two years that the 82-time PGA Tour winner has shown the golfing world what his son can do, and what a treat it has been. Speaking in 2020 Woods revealed he and his son had began to start playing consistently with each other out on the course during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Discussing his son’s progress, but keeping his cards close to his chest, the 15-time major winner told Golf TV: “He’s starting to get into it, he’s starting to understand how to play. He’s asking me the right questions. I’ve kept it competitive with his par, so it’s been just an absolute blast to go out there and just, you know, be with him. It reminds me so much of me and my dad growing up.”

Charlie burst onto the scene in 2020 when featuring in the PNC Championship at the father-son competition alongside dad Tiger. The then 11-year-old left golf fans in awe, as he effortlessly mirrored his dad in all areas including their outfits, mannerisms and golf game. In 2020 the Woods duo finished in seventh in the PNC standings, an admirable finish with an 11-year-old on the card.

A year later, Charlie and dad Tiger came back bigger and stronger and once again stole the show at the father-son event. There were fears that Team Woods were going to miss the event due to injuries sustained by Tiger in a car crash earlier that year.

However, the PNC Championship proved to be the American star’s return, and what better way to do it than alongside his prodigy son. The Woods pairing agonisingly missed out on the title by just two shots, finishing in second behind John Daly and his son John Jr.

The Florida-based event returns this weekend, and there is no doubt Tiger and Charlie will be out to go one better this time around. And this may be their best chance yet, with the youngster’s golf game going from strength to strength. Charlie recently shot his best ever round, carding a four-under-par 64 to secure a place in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship with dad Tiger on the bag.

But arguably the biggest achievement in the 14-year-old’s incredible rise has been finally outdriving his legendary dad off the tee. Throughout his career, Woods has been known to strike a large ball, with his biggest hit on Tour measuring at a whopping 498 yards back in 2002.

Whilst the 2019 Masters champion is not finding the distance he once did as a younger and fitter player, his length off the tee is still impressive, but 14-year-old Charlie seems to be already battling to match it. Speaking at ‘The Match’ between himself and Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, he admitted the youngster finally out-did him off the tee.

Woods commented: “I hate to say it, but I’m going to admit it. He [Charlie] finally did it [outdrove me] a few weeks ago. I spun one, he tomahawked one and got me.”

Tiger’s admission will have only excited fans even more ahead of this week’s event, and this distance has been recognised by tournament organisers, who have moved the youngster two tees further back from where he hit from last year, according to the Golf Channel.