HOBE SOUND, Fla. — Charlie Woods dealt with more than a leaky driver and struggling short game in his attempt to get closer to qualifying for his first PGA Tour event.
Woods, the 15-year-old son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, shot 16-over 86 on Thursday in a pre-qualifying round for the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches held at Lost Lake Golf Club.
Tiger Woods was not in attendance, though Charlie was followed by his mother, Elin Nordegren, and a zealous gallery throughout the morning.
When Woods’ first out-of-bounds drive went wide right toward the rough on No. 5, so did several fans hoping to grab a souvenir from the bushes and palms.
As a frustrated Woods made his way up the fairway, spectators began to realize that there were no ropes to bar them from the course. In turn, they walked very close to Woods on the fairway, ignoring repeated requests from tournament officials to stay on the cart path.
A disgruntled fan asked one official: “Who are you? The fire marshal?”
Charlie Woods talks with friend/caddie J.J. Kutner during pre-qualifying for the 2024 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches at Lost Lake Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida. (Photo: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
Woods’ following increased to more than 50 people as he headed for the back nine, including one grandmother who learned that he was competing and pulled her granddaughter out of school in the hope of Woods noticing her.
After Woods left the 12th green, another fan approached him with a pen and a copy of Tiger’s book, “How I Play Golf,” demanding Charlie sign the book. When an official told the fan it wasn’t allowed, she made a commotion of shushes and yells, including “I live here,” as Woods teed off on No. 13.
Woods’ already bad day could have been worse if not for his two-man security detail, which included a Martin County sheriff’s deputy.
As he walked off the 18th green, lamenting another missed putt, Woods joked, “That was some round, huh?” to his caddie, Palm Beach Gardens High School golfer Jacob “J.J.” Kutner. Woods attends The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens.
If you are not a fan of Olin Browne Jr after this…
According to people at the Qualifier Olin was encouraging Charlie the entire round despite all the distractions. And after the round Olin told Charlie how proud he was of him for finishing.
Awesome stuff.
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) February 23, 2024
After a slow start with multiple bogeys and a double bogey, all hope was lost on the seventh hole, a par-4 that took Woods 12 strokes to finish. He made the turn at 11-over 47 and finished with a 39 on the back nine, which included another double bogey and two more bogeys.
While Woods’ performance may mean the renaming of Lost Lake Golf Club to “Lost Ball Golf Club,” Charlie Woods will surely have more attempts at qualifying for a PGA Tour event.
After all, he got his learner’s permit only two weeks ago and left the course Thursday afternoon in the driver’s seat of his own vehicle.
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