Tiger Woods is no stranger to the spotlight, but these days, he’s enjoying a different kind of front-row seat - watching his son, Charlie, navigate the high-stakes world of junior golf recruiting. And if you ask him, it’s a whole different ballgame from the one he played when he was a teenage phenom.
Charlie Woods, a junior at The Benjamin School in Florida, is currently sitting at No. 9 in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings - the only uncommitted player in the Top 10. And he’s not just riding his last name. He’s coming off a breakout year that included his first AJGA tournament win, a top-10 finish at the Boys’ Junior PGA Championship, and a standout performance leading Benjamin to the Florida Class 1A state title in November.
Tiger, speaking ahead of this week’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas - his first media appearance since undergoing disc replacement surgery in October - reflected on how much the recruiting landscape has changed since his own days as a Stanford-bound prospect.
“It’s fun to be a part of the process with Charlie,” Tiger said. “To go through it and see the opportunities he has - that he’s created for himself by playing better - and the places he could play, wants to play, and ultimately will decide where he wants to go.”
This isn’t just a proud dad watching from the sidelines. Tiger’s been through the grind, but even he admits the recruiting game looks completely different now.
Back when he was fielding college interest, it was all about handwritten letters and waiting for the mail to arrive. Today, it’s a digital sprint - texts, calls, DMs - with coaches able to reach players and families instantly.
“We didn’t have cell phones,” Tiger said, chuckling. “We had written letters that would show up in the mailbox. It was like, ‘Oh my God, I got a letter.’”
The speed and accessibility of modern recruiting has reshaped how relationships are built between coaches and players. It’s not necessarily better or worse, Tiger noted - just different. And that difference is something he’s watching up close as Charlie weighs his next move.
For now, Charlie remains the top uncommitted name in junior golf - a talented, composed player with a growing résumé and the kind of exposure that comes with the Woods name. But what’s clear is that his rise isn’t just about legacy.
It’s about performance. Charlie’s year wasn’t just solid - it was statement-making.
As for what’s next, the decision will be Charlie’s. Tiger’s there to support, not steer. And while the recruiting process may be faster and flashier than it was in Tiger’s day, the core of it remains the same: talent, work ethic, and the right fit.
The next chapter of Charlie Woods’ journey is still unwritten. But if 2025 was any indication, the golf world should be paying close attention.