Charlie Woods falls in 14-for-2 playoff to get to match play at US Junior Am

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The third time wasn’t the charm Charlie Woods had hoped for in terms reaching match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur, as he failed to claim one of two remaining spots in a playoff on Wednesday morning.

Woods, the 17-year-old son of three-time winner Tiger Woods, was one of 14 players competing at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa., for the final two spots in the 64-player match-play bracket. Woods had started six over on his first five holes in stroke-play qualifying but rallied to finish one under through his last 31 although that included bogeys on two of his last four holes. With rounds of 76 and 70, then returned Wednesday morning to see if he could survive and advance through the playoff.

When Woods played the pat-5 584-yard first hole on the Grace Course in the fourth group, he knew he needed to others had made birdies ahead of him so he had to match that score. It’s why Woods went for the green in two, but had his ball land short left of the green in the rough.

From there it appeared a camera click distracted Woods in the back of his swing, his third shot only reaching the fringe of the green. He failed to make the birdie attempt and the par save, eventually finishing with a bogey and being eliminated.

This was Woods’ third start in the U.S. Junior. In 2024 at Oakland Hills he failed to reach match play with scores of 82-80. Last year at Trinity Forest, his stroke play scores of 80-74 also ended his tournament early.

Had Woods gotten the first of the two spots, he would have earned the 63rd seed and would have played No. 2 seed Miles Russell in the opening round. Woods and Russell are good friends who will both be attending Florida State in the fall of 2027. Woods caddied for Russell, the top-ranked junior in the country, in U.S. Open Final Qualifying when Russell earn a spot into the field at Shinnecock Hills. Russell proceeded to share low amateur honors in the event with. He’s also been named to the U.S. Walker Cup team that will compete in September at Ireland’s Lahinch Golf Club.