It was a rough day for Charlie Woods in his debut in a national championship Monday at Oakland Hills Country Club, the 15-year-old from Jupiter, Florida—and from a famous golfing bloodline—struggling in just about every phase of the game to shoot a disappointing 12-over 82.
With his father, 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, marching along with a large gallery, the younger Woods struck the ball decently on the North Course at Oakland Hills as a balmy morning turned into an overcast afternoon of light breezes. However, problems with distance control led to a round that featured five double bogeys and four bogeys against just two birdies on the 6,808-yard, par-70 layout.
A crowd estimated at nearly 1,000 remained steady throughout the round that began at 8:28 a.m. EDT. USGA officials couldn’t remember a bigger crowd for the first round of a U.S. Junior Amateur, or any round of any amateur event except maybe the U.S. Amateur final. At least not since Tiger was playing in those championships. Club officials said volunteer rolls increased after Charlie Woods qualified for the championship by winning his qualifier in June at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida.
The elder Woods, winner of nine USGA titles, including three straight in the U.S. Juniors starting in 1991, walked every step of the way with his son. He did not limp and wore no protective device on his surgically repaired right leg as he traversed the hilly North Course. Back from Scotland, where he had missed the cut at Royal Troon in the 152nd Open, Woods attracted a significant crowd that hovered in the vicinity.
The USGA took the precaution of assigning a large contingent of marshals to keep the crowd safely away from Charlie Woods and his playing partners, Chase Kyes of Birmingham, Alabama, and Davis Ovard of Frisco, Texas, recent winner of the North and South Amateur. As the day wore on, a dedicated gallery rope trailed behind Tiger to separate him from onlookers. He was further protected by four security personnel. He wore his Sun Day Red brand attire, as did Charlie.
Tiger Woods was in the gallery for all of Charlie Woods’ first round in the U.S. Junior – Logan Whitton
The younger Woods started solidly enough with three routine pars, but he missed the green at the par-3 fourth hole, chipped poorly and then three-putted from 25 feet. His second putt was no more than two feet. He rounded with a birdie at the par-5 fifth after stuffing his approach to about 18 inches.
That’s when it became obvious that the six marshals initially assigned to the group were inadequate. The number swelled to 18 by the seventh hole.
Charlie Woods finished the front with a bogey and a double after spraying drives to the right to go out in 40. His only other birdie of the day came at the par-5 12th, from eight feet. For the day, he hit eight fairways and only seven greens in regulation. He three-putted three times.
His 82 placed him near the bottom of the field of 264 players. He did not talk to the media after his round. The youngster held his head in his hands for more than a minute while seated in the scoring tent after signing his card.
Kyes had three birdies and three bogeys in an even-par 70, while Ovard had a 73. Kyes said he tried not to think about Tiger Woods watching him play golf. “I looked over at him a couple of times, but I didn’t look around a whole lot,” Kyes said. “There’s a lot of pressure with his name. Besides, he was there to watch Charlie.
“Charlie is a great player,” Kyes added. “He’s got all the talent in the world. He just had a bad day.”
Woods, Kyes and Ovard were scheduled to go off on the much more difficult South Course at 1:48 p.m. Tuesday, but play was halted Monday afternoon at 2:37 p.m. because of dangerous weather, so there is no telling how long the start of the second round will be delayed. The low 64 players advance to match play. The early leader was Tyler Watts of Huntville, Alabama, who posted 5-under 65 on the North Course.
Main Image: Logan Whitton
