Woods Shoots 71, Four Back at Junior Players
Woods Shoots 71, Four Back at Junior Players
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Key Points
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Woods’ 71 was his lowest competitive round at TPC Sawgrass, continuing an improvement from last year’s scores of 76, 75 and 72 at the event.
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Starting on the back nine, Woods produced his best stretch from Nos. 15 through 18, making birdies at Nos. 15, 16 and 18 while saving par at the 17th; his birdie at No. 18 came from an 18-foot putt.
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Woods said he was “pleasantly surprised” to find that his tee shot on the 17th had stayed dry on the footpath rather than entering the water; he then chipped to about four feet and converted the par putt.
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His difficult 2026 season included failing to advance from a 14-for-2 playoff at the U.S. Junior Amateur, missing the 54-hole cut at the Junior PGA Championship after a third-round 77, finishing last in the 36-player Junior Invitational and failing to qualify for the U.S. Open.
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After missing the U.S. Open himself, Woods remained involved by caddying for fellow junior golfer Miles Russell, who went on to qualify for the championship; Woods was also recently announced as a TaylorMade athlete.
Charlie Woods opened the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass with a 1-under 71, placing him fourth and four strokes behind leader Chase Bauer. The 17-year-old made five birdies and four bogeys while delivering a clutch par save on the famous 17th hole—his tee shot landed safely on the surrounding footpath rather than splashing into the water, a moment Woods called "pleasantly surprised" about.
Woods is competing on a sponsor exemption at the tournament, which runs through September 6 and features 78 top junior golfers. This opening round marks his lowest competitive score ever at TPC Sawgrass, improving on last year's rounds of 76, 75, and 72 at the event, according to Yahoo Sports.
Strong Finish Highlights Woods' Back-Nine Performance
Starting on the back nine, Woods found his best form down the stretch. He birdied holes 15 and 16, then delivered a crucial par save on 17 after chipping to about four feet. His finish was capped by an 18-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole, according to DailyClubGolf.
The par save on 17 was the standout moment. After his tee shot landed on the footpath instead of the water, Woods faced a tough chip. He executed under pressure and converted the putt—a recovery that drew comparisons to his father's clutch performances, according to Tennis World USA.
Redemption After a Disappointing 2026 Season
Woods struggled through much of 2026. He failed to advance from a 14-for-2 playoff at the U.S. Junior Amateur and missed the 54-hole cut at the Junior PGA Championship after a third-round 77. He also finished last in the 36-player Junior Invitational and failed to qualify for the U.S. Open, according to Palm Beach Post.
Despite missing the U.S. Open himself, Woods stayed involved in the sport. He caddied for fellow junior golfer Miles Russell, who qualified for the championship. Woods was also recently announced as a TaylorMade athlete, marking a step forward after the difficult season.
Returning to TPC Sawgrass With Improved Results
Woods competed at the Junior Players Championship last year and tied for 31st place. He made a hole-in-one on the par-3 third that day, but struggled overall with higher scores. This year's opening round of 71 shows clear improvement from his 2025 performance.
At just four strokes behind the leader after round one, Woods has positioned himself well in contention. The 17-year-old senior at the Benjamin School is seeking stronger results to turn around a disappointing year and build momentum heading into the remainder of the season.
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