Charlie Woods’ Junior PGA Tournament Recap

It seems the junior Woods, Charlie to be precise, is carving out his identity in the golf world, but not without some bumps on the fairway. Earlier this week at the 2025 Junior PGA Championships, the 16-year-old son of Tiger Woods teed up hopes as high as his iconic last name, only to finish tied for 9th after a shaky Round 4 performance. Can he build on this performance?

What Went Down At the Junior PGA Championships

Heading into the final round at Purdue University, Woods was sitting on a solid -12 score from back-to-back six-under rounds. That was enough to leave him tied for second, a position sweet enough for a Junior Ryder Cup spot. But, as many golfers will tell you, the difference between “almost there” and “just missed” can involve a headache of small missteps. Round 4 saw Woods shoot a 3-over 74, sinking him to a final tournament score of -9 and a T9 finish.

What’s the Big Deal with This Finish?

Why are so many people talking about this? Simple. Expectations. Charlie Woods hasn’t just been handed lofty comparisons because of his last name. You don’t share golf carts with Tiger Woods at father-son PNC Championship without raising eyebrows. He has won junior tournaments like the 2025 Team TaylorMade Invitational. He has even tried out for the U.S. Open.

Plus, finishing second or higher this week would have meant Charlie could flex his golf muscles at the Junior Ryder Cup. Instead, sitting at 20th in the American Junior Golf Association rankings, his chances of landing a captain’s pick look slim.

Who Ended Up Winning?

While Woods was busy navigating an up-and-down final day, Lunden Esterline, a rising star from Kansas, was essentially running laps around him. Esterline did not just win, he obliterated the competition with a 19-under-par domination. Giuseppe Puebla and Tyler Mawhinney tied for second at -13, proving that consistency often trumps flash when it comes to tournaments where kids have to balance exam prep with short-game practice.

Why Charlie Is Still Worth Watching

Here is the thing. Scores aside, this isn’t Charlie Woods’ last showing. At 16, most golfers are lucky if they are managing to break 90, much less competing on courses that will send grown men home shaking their heads. The skill is there. The kid teamed up with his dad to snag several second-place finishes in the PNC Father-Son Challenge, where he brought swing mechanics and mature on-course decision-making to the table.

It is not a question of talent; it is a question of obviously grueling rounds where mental resilience is as critical as technique. Charlie will likely weather a few more of these frustrating outcomes before turning those “just short” finishes into “wow, he actually lived up to those expectations.”

What’s Next For Woods?

Rest, regroup, and lots of swing drills, probably. This isn’t the Cinderella finish everyone wanted. Maybe by this time next year, we will be reading about redemption shots, longer drives, and clutch putts that put his inherited red-shirt Sunday walk on par with the legacy he shadows.